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乌鸦传媒檚 car was parked.
However, when the trio tried to board, the driver 乌鸦传媒渟aid, 乌鸦传媒業 can乌鸦传媒檛 take your dog on the bus because he乌鸦传媒檚 a pet,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Kay said.
乌鸦传媒淚 said, 乌鸦传媒楬e乌鸦传媒檚 not a pet.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
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乌鸦传媒檛 allowed.
乌鸦传媒淭he shuttle doors didn乌鸦传媒檛 open all the way,乌鸦传媒� King told Peace Arch News. The driver 乌鸦传媒渄idn乌鸦传媒檛 want us on the bus.乌鸦传媒�
It wasn乌鸦传媒檛 until after another passenger pointed out a notice on the back of the driver乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檛 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, 乌鸦传媒渁ll that for two stops?乌鸦传媒� she said.
乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檚 important for people to be aware that service dogs do have public-access licence,乌鸦传媒� Kay said.
TransLink confirmed Tuesday that a complaint regarding the incident was received and that Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) 乌鸦传媒渨ill be looking into what happened.乌鸦传媒�
PAN was also pointed to TransLink乌鸦传媒檚 policy for service animals, which states certified assistance animals 乌鸦传媒渁re allowed on public transit at all times.乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渋ncreases public safety, raises training standards and improves public access for dog and handler teams,乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渕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.乌鸦传媒�
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 乌鸦传媒渘ot at all乌鸦传媒� acceptable, she said.
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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