Woman wants service dog awareness after facing pushback in P.E.I. park, businesses

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — An Ontario lady visiting P.E.I. is hoping to lift consciousness after being confronted about her service canine in two companies and a nationwide park.

“I need folks to be extra conscious, to see if they’re a service canine,” mentioned Michelle Henry. “Simply be sort, be understanding, and don’t ask questions like ‘what’s improper with you,’ or something like that.’”

Whereas Henry had had emotional assist animals previously, Sheeba – a toy Australian shepherd – is her first psychiatric service canine.

“Truthfully, I don’t know the way I survived with out her,” she mentioned. “I ought to’ve received one a protracted, very long time in the past.”

Henry has nervousness, melancholy and complicated post-traumatic stress dysfunction (C-PTSD), amongst different issues. Whereas her earlier emotional assist animals supplied her with consolation, Sheeba is skilled to help Henry when she’s in want.

Sheeba reminds her proprietor when it’s time to take medicine, reminds her to maintain hydrated, distracts her, and brings her again to the current if she begins dissociating.

“She is my every part, you understand?” mentioned Henry. “She’s gotten me out of some fairly deep, darkish locations. I don’t know the way I lived with out her earlier than.”

Henry, who’s spending a while visiting household in western P.E.I., has by no means had any difficulty taking Sheeba together with her into companies.

When visiting Charlottetown, although, workers at one enterprise advised her canine weren’t allowed inside as a result of it’s a meals institution.

Patrons on the enterprise defended Henry and her canine to the workers, however Henry was rising overwhelmed by the state of affairs.

“I sort of are likely to not be there when stuff like that occurs,” mentioned Henry. “I sort of dissociate and she or he (Sheeba) was getting my consideration. It was only a lot to absorb, so she took me away from the state of affairs … and I walked away.”

Just a few days later, Henry was visiting a western P.E.I. restaurant together with her daughters. There, the supervisor advised Henry that Sheeba was not allowed in, and requested what sort of service she supplied and why she wanted to be within the restaurant.

A waitress spoke on Henry’s behalf, although, and rapidly resolved the difficulty.

“After that was clarified, that supervisor was completely superb,” mentioned Henry. “She was very attentive, made positive every part was OK.”

Henry additionally confronted pushback at P.E.I. Nationwide Park. Earlier than she entered the seashore, Henry encountered a park warden and confirmed that Sheeba was allowed in the park, supplied she was leashed.

On the seashore, although, a handful of beachgoers confronted her and advised her Sheeba was not allowed on the seashore; feeling annoyed and dispirited, Henry opted to depart.

“I really feel like I can’t absolutely take pleasure in it,” mentioned Henry. “I don’t know if the subsequent enterprise I am going in may have the identical downside, or if the subsequent seashore I’ll go to together with her may have the identical state of affairs occur.”

Service canine rights

There isn’t a particular service canine laws in P.E.I., mentioned Brenda Picard, government director of the P.E.I. Human Rights Commission. That mentioned, individuals who have a service animal due to a incapacity, are protected below the province’s human rights act.

Each psychological and bodily disabilities – reminiscent of blindness, deafness, seizures and PTSD – are included.

“That act prevents discrimination on the premise of a incapacity. Beneath our laws, an individual shouldn’t be prevented entry right into a enterprise,” mentioned Picard, including that the service animal also needs to be allowed.

“If a enterprise doesn’t try this, then that may be the topic of a criticism of discrimination below our laws.”

Most complaints, mentioned Picard, are the results of a misunderstanding and are rapidly concluded.

There are exceptions to the rule, although, which usually focus on well being and security. For instance, whereas a canine can be allowed in a restaurant’s eating room or a hospital, it is probably not permitted in a kitchen or the working room.

Picard advises companies to err on the facet of inclusion – significantly if the proprietor tells you it’s a service canine and the animal is correctly behaving. Not all service animals, she added, have a card or put on a vest.

“Disabilities usually are not all the time seen,” she added. “Simply because you’ll be able to’t see what the particular person’s incapacity is doesn’t imply they don’t have one.”

Spreading consciousness

Though Henry feels discouraged by her adverse experiences, she appreciates the companies that have been accommodating and the people who affirmed her rights.

“The opposite companies that I’ve been (to), right here, handled her like an individual,” she mentioned. “Moved out of her manner, (didn’t) speak to her or something like that. In order that was good. She is an extension of me.”

For Henry, schooling and consciousness are very important to forestall her and others with service canine from going through prejudice and discrimination.

Companies, she mentioned, ought to evaluate their insurance policies and practice workers on accommodate folks and their service canine. If anybody sees somebody with a service canine having issue, ask earlier than serving to.

“I simply need folks to be extra conscious,” mentioned Henry. “If you happen to see somebody that’s struggling, with a service canine, with a enterprise, please ask if they want your assist … I do know folks’s intentions are good, however please ask.”

Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. She may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @KristinGardiner.