Preparation is essential when traveling with an assistance dog. Every country handles assistance dogs differently. So if you don't want any surprises, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with a few things before your departure. To reduce the level of stress as much as possible, I always make sure I am well informed and have informed everyone locally that my assistance dog Sophie is coming with me.
With every trip I take with Sophie abroad, I always start by preparing on the Internet. What is the legislation regarding assistance dogs in the country I am traveling to. Are people familiar with the concept of assistance dogs? Are there organizations in the country that deal with assistance dogs: in short, do they know what an assistance dog is and how to deal with it.
The basic principle is that a person with a (non-visual) disability should not be discriminated against. In many countries, and certainly Western countries, this is usually enshrined in law. An assistance dog is an extension; you can compare it to a wheelchair or a pair of crutches. The person with the disability cannot live without the dog. Still, it is good to always check in advance whether this is laid down in the law of the particular country. After all, this makes it a lot easier. It is not something I use directly, but if people are being difficult and say that Sophie is not welcome, I do inform them about the legislation. And then I find that they come around. Unfortunately, the reality is that unknown makes unloved: in many countries assistance dogs are not the standard. Even in the Netherlands I notice with some regularity that people are not aware of the legislation.
In principle, a hotel or apartment may not refuse your assistance dog, because by doing so they are discriminating, and this is prohibited in most countries. Nevertheless, it has happened to me regularly in the past that, initially, I received a negative reaction when I indicated that I have an assistance dog and wanted to make a reservation. To avoid this, I take a different approach these days.
I first inquire with the accommodation if a room is available during the period I want to come. Once I receive confirmation, I send an email indicating that I am traveling with an assistance dog and that it is necessary for her to come with me. In this email, I also include information about Sophie (that she is certified, trained, size, breed, etc.) so they know locally what to expect. Enclosing a photo also helps, I've found.
Usually this is sufficient. Should you still encounter resistance, you can still send information about the laws in the country. Often people simply do not know what the rules are regarding assistance dogs. So it is not always necessarily unwillingness, but more often a case of ignorance.
TIP I have prepared a standard text that I use when booking all kinds of things; I translate it into the language of the country I am traveling to. That way I don't have to write something from scratch every time; it's so easy.
This allows me to move quickly when information is requested. I use the text when booking accommodations, as well as other things like museums, restaurants, nature parks, etc.
Just as you take your passport or ID card for yourself when you go abroad, it is also essential that you take your assistance dog's passport with you. In addition, I always have Sophie's ID card with me so that I can prove that she is an assistance dog. Furthermore, I have a letter in English from my specialist stating that I have an assistance dog.
Since we travel frequently, I made a list of everything that comes with me on trips for Sophie as standard. Saves me a lot of time. I also have a number of things in a bag that I can take with me, such as poop bags, a brush, a pair of tongs, a first aid kit, a blanket to lie on, an extra leash and collar, and a towel. Should you go out on the water, also consider a life jacket. And shoes are handy for areas where it is very cold or very hot, so the paws don't freeze or burn.And I always carry ear protection. After all, I never know if we're going to do anything that will generate a lot of noise, and the last thing I want is to damage Sophie's hearing.
These are pretty much the regular things I always do before we travel. And depending on where we are going where, there may be additional preparations.
Do you have any questions? Then get in touch: I'm happy to help.
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