A new law for guide dogs and assistance dogs

All dog owners know how hard it still is to have their dog accepted in public places, in taxis, and on public transportation. This attitude is even harder to tolerate when it concerns owners or trainers of guide dogs and assistance dogs, whose work is indispensable and who by law have the right to go everywhere. To prevent such discrimination, Michela Brambilla, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament and a strong supporter of animal rights, has presented a bill that should soon be approved by the Chamber. The bill calls for extension of Law 37/1974 to assistance dogs, i.e., dogs who accompany people with disabilities (auditory, psychological, physical) or illnesses (diabetes, epilepsy, autism), so that they too, like guide dogs, may go everywhere and travel on all means of transportation. It also calls for doubling of the fine – up to €5000 – for anyone who does not respect the law.

The European Committee for Standardization is also developing a European standard for assistance dogs to ensure the same rights in every country. The Law will therefore reduce the daily hardships faced by the blind, sight-impaired, or disabled not only when they travel, but also when performing countless daily activities. Stores, hospitals, churches, restaurants, swimming pools, museums, theaters, cinemas, and schools are just some of the many public places they have to go, in the indispensable company of their best friend. Guaranteeing access and free fares to dogs, owners, and trainers on buses, metros, taxis, and planes is a step forward. In Italy, ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) has for years promoted initiatives that allow guide dogs on planes; the new Law would extend this to assistance dogs. It is increasingly important to establish shared standards throughout Europe, at least to eliminate legislative barriers, because there’s still a lot of work to do regarding cultural barriers. We can only hope the bill is passed quickly, so that changes to the current law will soon be applied. The decree should be approved by June 2025, after which assistance dogs will have a microchip and be registered in the National Identification System for Companion Animals (SINAC). We hope that, even if there are still unfortunately many people who lack empathy, perhaps, when they have to pay the new fine, they’ll change their discriminatory, unjust, and incomprehensible behavior. On the other hand, it is only right that anyone who decides to share their life with a dog be aware that to ensure their rights they also have to respect the obligations of coexistence with society, their community, and their best friend. Mutual respect is essential if we are to make progress (on two legs or four) toward positive changes for all.

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