Special Episode: Hands Off Our Harnesses ft. Tom Dekker

Share:

Listens: 0

Mo Waja Presents: Toronto Story Archive

Society & Culture


Chatting with Tom Dekker, one of the leaders of the Hands Off Our Harnesses movement. "The Canadian General Standards Board has drafted a set of standards which, if implemented, would impose conditions on the training and use of service dogs. The standard includes guide dogs which are dogs for the blind and visually impaired, and are therefore, by definition, not merely service dogs. Further, the content of the standard is inconsistent with the use and training of guide dogs.  Many Canadians get their guide dogs from the United States, and both American and Canadian schools find these standards at odds with standard training and use of guide dogs. American schools are concerned that, if these standards are accepted, they may stop accepting Canadian applicants.  This would force Canadians to apply to the very few extant Canadian schools which already have long waiting lists.  The increased demand would greatly lengthen wait times. For these reasons, it is of the utmost importance that these draft standards not be implemented as they now exist." – Hands Off Our Harnesses Movement