Alberta Service Dog Laws

SYNOPSIS

• The Service Dogs Act, SA 2007, c S-7.5: Defines “disabled person” and “service dog”. Provides access rights (to SD/SDiT) and penalties for non-compliance. Trainers and teams must be certified by an ADI (Assistance Dogs International), the IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation) trainer, or any organization approved by the Province of Alberta. Requires a Government issued ID for the Dog and it’s Handler. Any Dog Team without BC, Alberta or Nova Scotia Service Dog ID can be refused access. There is little if any recourse with the Human Rights Act.
• Blind Persons’ Rights Act, RSA 2000, c B-3: Defines “blind person”, “guide dog “, and “white cane”. Provides access rights (to GD/GDiT) and penalties for non-compliance. Requires government issues ID card
• Alberta Human Rights Act. 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.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Any Dog Team without BC, Alberta or Nova Scotia Service Dog ID can be refused access. There is little if any recourse with the Human Rights Act.

Meliora Service Dogs is a Government of Alberta accredited training school. As a Meliora member you can apply for the Alberta ID Card without needing to do their tests.