The lurks & perks I guess are reward for the job Gracie does. Almost as many as a Guide Dog, except that a Guide Dog has carte blanch! and rightly so I have to get permission for Gracie to do the things a guide dog can do..... But amazingly the relevant authorities have bent over backwards to get the forms filled in and approved - even the NP&WS gestapo have been amazing getting a "Service Dog" pass..... So far she has access to national parks, access to outside eating areas, will soon get her own ACT Bus Pass and NSW Rail, tram, bus & ferry pass AND this is the bit that I want she will also BE ALLOWED in Caravan parks even those who say "no pets" all simply because she is now registered as a "Trained Assistance Dog". Was it worth the effort, the time, the money? ABSOLUTLEY, the joy Gracie brings to the patients she visits is worth all the tea in China but not all like it as many who have dementia know Me & Gracie but don't know their own rellies and the rellies get a tad upset....
dave06 said
01:58 PM Feb 14, 2009
yep that's what I thought when I first read that a therapy doggie has much the same rights as a guide doggie, glad to hear the authorities are at least being a little helpfull
JRH said
02:11 PM Feb 14, 2009
A win for the good guys, nice to hear, or should I say read.
Almost as many as a Guide Dog, except that a Guide Dog has carte blanch! and rightly so I have to get permission for Gracie to do the things a guide dog can do..... But amazingly the relevant authorities have bent over backwards to get the forms filled in and approved - even the NP&WS gestapo have been amazing getting a "Service Dog" pass.....
So far she has access to national parks, access to outside eating areas, will soon get her own ACT Bus Pass and NSW Rail, tram, bus & ferry pass AND this is the bit that I want she will also BE ALLOWED in Caravan parks even those who say "no pets" all simply because she is now registered as a "Trained Assistance Dog". Was it worth the effort, the time, the money? ABSOLUTLEY, the joy Gracie brings to the patients she visits is worth all the tea in China but not all like it as many who have dementia know Me & Gracie but don't know their own rellies and the rellies get a tad upset....
A win for the good guys, nice to hear, or should I say read.
John