A White Rock grandmother has lodged a complaint with TransLink after an incident with a driver that she says emphasizes the need for better awareness around the rights of accessibility afforded to service dogs.

Margaret Kay said she, her grandson Ryan King and his BC Guide Dog-certified yellow lab, Walter, tried to hop the westbound 361 community shuttle at Oxford Street and Marine Drive at 4:20 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 10), after Ryan became tired towards the end of their walk along the promenade. They wanted a two-block lift, to the Bay Street lot where Kay害羞草研究所檚 car was parked.

However, when the trio tried to board, the driver 害羞草研究所渟aid, 害羞草研究所業 can害羞草研究所檛 take your dog on the bus because he害羞草研究所檚 a pet,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Kay said.

害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所楬e害羞草研究所檚 not a pet.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

The dog has been support for 20-year-old King, who is autistic, for the past seven years, Kay said. When out and about with King and Kay, the gentle canine wears a blue vest that identifies him as an autism support dog, and both King and Kay carry documentation that identifies them as certified to have Walter with them anywhere they go.

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Kay said despite showing that photo ID on Sunday, the shuttle driver remained adamant for 20 minutes that Walter wasn害羞草研究所檛 allowed.

害羞草研究所淭he shuttle doors didn害羞草研究所檛 open all the way,害羞草研究所� King told Peace Arch News. The driver 害羞草研究所渄idn害羞草研究所檛 want us on the bus.害羞草研究所�

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 until after another passenger pointed out a notice on the back of the driver害羞草研究所檚 seat that states service animals are permitted, that things changed, Kay said. The driver got out of his seat to read the notice, then allowed the three to board. He didn害羞草研究所檛 continue along the route, however, until after spending another five minutes reviewing the documentation that was previously offered, Kay said.

Then, after Ryan pushed the button to signal he and Kay wanted the Bay Street stop, the driver commented, 害羞草研究所渁ll that for two stops?害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 important for people to be aware that service dogs do have public-access licence,害羞草研究所� Kay said.

TransLink confirmed Tuesday that a complaint regarding the incident was received and that Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) 害羞草研究所渨ill be looking into what happened.害羞草研究所�

PAN was also pointed to TransLink害羞草研究所檚 policy for service animals, which states certified assistance animals 害羞草研究所渁re allowed on public transit at all times.害羞草研究所� The policy adds that the animals must be harnessed and leashed, and passengers with them must be prepared to produce their Guide Animal Certificate.

Certification 害羞草研究所渋ncreases public safety, raises training standards and improves public access for dog and handler teams,害羞草研究所� according to the provincial Guide Dog and Service Dog Act.

The Act also stipulates that a guide-dog team, service-dog team or dog-in-training team 害羞草研究所渕ay, in the same manner as would an individual who is not a member of any of those teams, enter and use any place, accommodation, building or conveyance to which the public is invited or has access.害羞草研究所�

A penalty of up to $3,000 can be levied for refusing a certified guide or service dog access. By the same token, falsely representing a dog as a guide or service dog can also result in a fine of up to $3,000.

Kay said incident is an opportunity to educate the public about the rights of service dogs and the individuals they are supporting. What she, King and Walter experienced Sunday was 害羞草研究所渘ot at all害羞草研究所� acceptable, she said.

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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