Pawsitive Steps Training

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Date: November 5, 2024

As Veteran’s week is officially upon us, we felt it appropriate to share some news about a new bill that is being proposed to help regulate charities, and standards for service dog training. This bill is aimed to help connect veteran’s with service animals to help them after returning from tours of duty. There are currently around 10,000 veteran’s in need of these animals, and having access to one would change their world.

The Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards are a voluntary set of standards which are industry recognized, though there is currently no legislative standard to claim an animal as a service dog. Nor does a trainer require any specific accreditation. However, this has serious impacts on those who rely on their service animals each and every day.

The new bill recommends for service dog training to follow the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards and, to ensure that service animals are trained in service dog tasks, not just obedience.

As members of the CAPDT we at Pawsitive Steps Training do follow standards outlined by the ADI, however we are not service dog trainers and, we do not have a service dog training centre to provide the service animals the daily 1:1 training they require for their education which allows them to be successful in their career.

We hope to one day grow enough that we can offer service animal training to provide assistance to those in need. This bill would be a great step in the right direction to uphold the industry standards in which we believe.

Additional Resources

If you, or someone you know, are a veteran in need of a service animal you can find more information on how to apply through the Canadian Veteran Service Dog Unit (https://cvsdu.ca/)

NDP MP Proposes Bill – November 5, 2024
https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-mp-rachel-blaney-discusses-bill-on-animal-assisted-support-for-veterans?id=7474031a-9a74-48fb-8239-9608d497ea4a

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Standards
https://assistancedogsinternational.org/clientuploads/Summary%20of%20Standards/2024_ADI_Summary_of_Standards.pdf

Bill C-417
https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/44-1/ACVA/report-6/page-ToC

Pilot Program
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/about-vac/research/info-briefs/service-dogs