'Unqualified' assistance animals causing distress, handlers say

People who rely on assistance dogs say untrained pets posing as service dogs are undermining the legitimacy of working animals.

Assistance animals are trained to help anyone from people with disabilities to people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

But handlers in Western Australia's South West say unqualified dogs wearing the markings of service animals are causing distress. 

In Bunbury, about 170 kilometres south of Perth, navy veteran Gary Crombie relies on his golden retriever, Levi, for his PTSD.

Mr Crombie said he had recently noticed what he called "fake assistance dogs" distracting Levi in public.

"There was this lady approaching me with her assistance dog," he said. 

"When we got about five metres away from each other, her dog started to lunge and jump on its back legs, barking at Levi.

"The public behaviour in this dog was nowhere near meeting the standards."

'Anything could happen'

Mr Crombie said Levi had changed his life, helping him to leave the house while dealing with his PTSD.

"I was self medicating and drinking — the whole raft of things — but since I've had Levi, my whole life's changed," he said.

He said it was distressing for Levi to be distracted.

"[If] you get a dog all of a sudden attacking your dog in a public area where general dogs aren't allowed, it's quite disturbing," he said.

"When a dog is distracted, it's not paying attention to its owner and anything could happen to that owner."

WA Assistance and Therapy Dogs founding member Nigel Huckstep said he had also seen what appeared to be unqualified service animals in Busselton. 

He said it could create prejudice against legitimate working animals.

"A properly trained dog will take 18 months to get to a standard where it can actually intervene with medical tasks," he said.

"Dogs that don't have training, that are effectively pets in jackets that behave poorly … you get the eye rolls when you're going with an assistance dog, particularly if you're able-looking — you have an invisible disability."

Different markers for dogs confusing

Accreditation for assistance dogs differs across Australia.

In WA, assistance dogs trained by prescribed organisations are recognised under legislation.

Assistance dog approvals issued in other Australian jurisdictions are also recognised and privately trained dogs can obtain public access rights if they satisfy approval requirements.

Guide Dogs WA mobility instructor Katie Crawford said different markers could be confusing. 

"Each organisation provides a uniform, so a legitimate jacket for an assistance dog or a harness for a guide dog," she said.

"That can then become quite confusing because organisations all have their own." 

Ms Crawford said increased awareness around accreditation and service dogs was needed.

Change can't bring 'barriers'

University of Queensland law professor Paul Harpur said a national identification system could potentially provide benefit. 

"The law deliberately focuses on whether the animal is appropriately trained to assist the person with disability, rather than simply whether it carries a particular badge, licence or vest," he said.

"Queensland has an example of a scheme that protects without being overly burdensome … I use a guide dog and I have a government-issued card.

"That proves my right, protects shop owners or hotels from claims there is a dog on site, and gives everyone confidence."

But Mr Harpur said any regulatory change should not create additional barriers for people with disabilities. 

"People with disabilities who genuinely rely on assistance dogs already face significant barriers to participation in society," he said.

"We should be tough on fraud and misrepresentation, but we must not create a system that treats every person with a disability as though they need to continually prove themselves."

A WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety spokesperson said concerns about dogs' behaviour should be raised with the relevant local government.

"Assistance dog handlers who believe they have been unlawfully denied access may utilise the protections and complaint mechanisms available under the Disability Discrimination Act," the spokesperson said.