Certified Animals to be Respected

Important Etiquette Information Service Dogs Etiquette

Certified assistance dogs are working on Selkirk College's Nelson, Castlegar and Trail campuses after approval by the Campus Manager in accordance with policy which requires authorization of all animals on campus. Policy 4160 can be viewed here...

There are two kinds of certified assistance dogs: guide dogs that provide guidance to the visually impaired; and service dogs, which provide specific services to persons with other kinds of disabilities, including “invisible disabilities." Dogs may provide services that are not obvious to the public, such as performing advance detection of seizures or reminding handlers to take medication.

Certification means that the dog and handler team have passed a rigorous test proving that the handler has a disability, and that the dog and handler team is public-ready.

Dog and handler teams must show that they can calmly handle crowded spaces, be polite and unobtrusive, and generally behave appropriately in public. Certified dogs are not required to wear vests or harnesses identifying them, but many do.

Service and guide dog teams can expect the following from businesses and the public:

• Unrestricted access to all public places and buildings, including restaurants, public transit, stores and other places available to the public.
• Dignified treatment, including polite inquiries regarding whether a dog is a service or guide dog.
• Disabled persons using service dogs should not be asked questions about the nature of their disability or the services the dog provides. Such inquiries can be discriminatory and intrusive.
• Service and guide dogs should not be petted or fed.
• Staff should be educated on how to deal with service and guide dogs. The best approach is to ignore the dog and treat handlers like any other customer or member of the public.

For more information on service dogs please contact Myriam Spencer in Accessibility Services.

If you are approached by a student or staff member who may be experiencing a fear-based reaction to a service dog, please refer the individual to the Welcome Centre to book a counselling appointment.

For more information regarding this legislation and government policy is available online.