About service dogs

Service dogs help people with specific tasks relating to visible and non-visible disabilities, such as epilepsy, PTSD, diabetes or mobility limitations.

Guide dogs, however, are specifically trained to assist people who are blind or visually impaired.

Both guide dogs and qualified service dogs have been trained and tested to ensure safety in public. By law, qualified service dog teams have the right to access any location where the public is allowed.

Right to public access

Service dog owners should carry their Service Dog ID card with them at all times when in public.

A qualified service dog team has their rights to access public spaces protected under the law. The right to public access means that a service dog team has the right to go anywhere the public may go, including:

– restaurants

– hotels

– retail stores

– movie theatres

– golf courses

– schools

– pet-restricted apartments or condos

– hospitals

– taxis and buses

– places of worship

– all other public areas

This does not apply to non-public areas such as food preparation areas, sterile hospital rooms or restricted access areas.

If other persons are present who are allergic to dogs, afraid of dogs, or avoid them for religious reasons, the rights of both parties must be taken into account. A reasonable compromise should be found to accommodate both parties. The Service Dog Assessment Team may be of assistance in finding options for dealing with conflicting interests.

Laws at a Glance

Human Rights Act Link

Alberta Human Rights Act

Human Rights Act Info

– Defines “mental disability” and “physical disability”

– Defines a “physical reliance on a guide dog, service dog” as a disability but does not give protections unless those dogs are trained pursuant to the Alberta Service Dog Act.

– prohibits discrimination

Service Dog Law:

Service Dogs Act, SA 2007, c S-7.5