United KingdomAs the guide dog movement continues to expand and more blind people use them as a means of independent travel the need for legislation to protect the rights of guide dog users to enter public establishments, and to travel abroad accompanied by their dogs also increases. For many years those who relied solly on a guide dog for mobility were effectively barred from entering certain countries due to the strict quarantine laws of these nations. During the 1990s several nations such as Australia and New Zealand adopted new rules that allowed guide dog users to enter these countries without their dogs having to undergo quarantine. In the year 2000 the State of Hawaii folowed suit and now makes it possible for American guide dog handlers to travel to Hawaii without their dogs having to spend 30 to 180 days in quarantine. On February 28, 2000 an event occurred that caused rejoycing amongst pet owners, and especially those who rely on dogs for independence such as guide dogs. On that day England launched it's PETS, Pet Travel Scheme. Under this scheme guide dog users living in approved countries can now bring their dogs in to England without their having to undergo the 6-month-long quarantine period thus enhancing opportunities for education, and travel in the UK. The flaim of new freedom of travel for guide dogs and their blind owners burned brighter when on December 11, 2002 the Pet's Scheme was extended to include the United States and Canada. To date we are not aware of any guide dog users who have traveled to the UK with their guide dogs under this scheme. The lifting of this 100-year-old quarantine law is viewed as a major step forward to increasing the freedom of movement for guide dog users World-Wide. While some European air carriers and cruise ships now allow guide dog users to have their dogs with them at all times this last, (Obstacle) is on the verge of being overcome to permit guide dog users here in North America, and in other countries that are a part of the Pet Travel Scheme are to have the same freedom of movement with their dogs as they do on domestic air carriers, and on some foreign airlines. We are aware of several instances where blind persons accompanied by their guide dogs traveled on commercial air craft with their dogs in the cabbin for 12 hours or more with no problems. The National Association of Guide Dog users through the National Federation of the Blind is working to encourage more guide dog users to travel internationally, and to insist that their dogs be allowed to remain with them at all times. It is hoped that as more nations adopt guide dog access legislation that they will address this issue to bring increased independence to guide dog users wishing to travel by rail, sea, and air accompanied by their dogs.
It has come to our attention that like the United States and Australia the United Kingdom recently adopted anty discrimination legislation on the basis of a disability. We will include the portion of this legislation pertaining to guide dogs on this site in the future. You can read the entire Pets rules by selecting the link below.
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