As a disabled individual, owning an assistance dog would be life-changing. These incredibly trained animals provide me with critical support and companionship, allowing me to live a more independent life. However, their care – including Food, Insurance, Equipment, Toys, Treats – is not currently recognised as eligible for Direct Payments, even though all of these are necessary for their role as carers. Moreover, like other working dogs, they should also be given benefits like VAT relief for Bedding, Grooming, and Dog Walking.

There is no denial of the tremendous value that assistance dogs bring to their owners. According to Assistance Dogs International, these special animals can perform numerous tasks ‒ from providing tactile or auditory stimulation for those with sensory disabilities, helping with mobility for those with physical impairments, to alerting individuals with diabetes or epilepsy to take their medication (Assistance Dogs International).

PADs Foundation:Psychiatric Assistance Dog

1. Tasks Performed by Psychiatric Service Dogs:
   Anxiety Reduction: PSDs are trained to perform tasks that help reduce anxiety, including providing tactile stimulation (94% of tasks) and deep pressure stimulation (45%).  
2. Promoting Presence: They can nudge or paw their handler to help them return to the present moment (71%).  
3. Interruption of Undesirable Behaviors:PSDs can interrupt behaviors that are harmful or disruptive (51%).  
4. Constant Body Contact: Some PSDs are trained to provide constant body contact for comfort and reassurance (50%).  
5. Blocking Contact: PSDs can block unwanted physical contact from others (42%).  
6. Other Support: PSDs can also provide assistance with tasks like retrieving items, alerting to changes in mental state, or providing companionship. 
   
   

However, the costs associated with training and maintaining the health and happiness of these dogs are high. With over 10 million disabled people in the UK, it is crucial that we support these individuals in all the ways necessary for them to live empowered, independent lives. That includes recognising owner-trained assistant dogs officially as carers in our Direct Payments system (UK government disability statistics).

Join us in our mission to provide the support disabled individuals and their hardworking assistance dogs deserve. Single their importance in our society by signing this petition asking for the legal recognition of owner-trained assistance dogs as Carers for Direct Payments.