Thursday 28 May 2009

Rebel the Assistance Dog

A BIG FURRY DOG-HUG WELCOME TO REBEL AND GUY.

Visit their blog. Here is the first entry of what will no doubt be a heart-warming, inspiring and sometimes tear-jerking BLOG:

"Rebel and I were reminded today that I am not a person who is trained in how to handle discrimination. When disabled, you sometimes feel more vulnerable, and when people threaten to refuse access, it can be frustrating.

I began to think that maybe a guide for disabled people with an assistance animal on how to advocate their rights would be useful.

Depriving any one of their rights through shallow behavior is the worst thing you could possibly do, doing this to a person with an invisible disability should be prosecuted first by education and then by law."

We recommend the DDLC Users Guide - although in the process of being updated and written for NSW, it is still helpful for people in any state or territory.

Friday 15 May 2009

Guide Dogs for the Mind

Coming Soon - Because:
20% of Australians have a disability. It could be permanent, temporary, degenerative or just a speed bump on the road of life. It's a social imperative that we provide options so that people affected can attain or retain quality of life and community involvement.

88% of disabilities are invisible.

Again: 88% of disabilities are invisible. That means for every one person you see that you may think has a disability, there are 8 or 9 other people who are dealing with a medical limitation that is impacting on them.
  • Do you need to SEE someone's condition to accept they are living with a disability? If you don't see it do you think it isn't real?
  • Do you think you are qualified to judge if that person has a bona fide dog trained to assist them as part of their treatment?
  • Do you believe that all assistance dogs look like labradors or that a schnauzer would never provide a medical benefit to a person?
Would you be better equipped to accept your neighbours' suicide due to depression than to admit that their dog was an active suicide prevention mechanism?

If you are a service provider - would you prefer refuse a customer or client by stating "No Dogs Allowed" then to recognise that their dog may be keeping them alive?

Vision impairment is about 10% of disabling medical conditions. Assistance animals come in all shapes and sizes. Guide Dogs for the Mind will be bringing together mental health clinicians and dog trainers so that the assistance dogs (a 24 x 7 health care provider) can be legitimised, quantified and accredited in such a way to meet public behaviour expectations.

If you are dealing with a mental health issue whether diagnosed or not - and would like assistance that includes your dog, or acquiring a dog to assist you than you are welcome to contact us now.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Good News for Renters with Pets

Is the often used 'no pets without permission' legally binding?

Did you know there is no such clause in legislation in NSW for residential rentals (excluding Strata Schemes)? That's right. It is a MADE UP CLAUSE - made up by the real estate institute.
  • The law requires a tenant to keep the premises reasonably clean and not to cause a nuisance or annoyance.
  • The law requires the landlord not to interfere with your reasonable peace, comfort or privacy.
If you have an agent or landlord telling you not to smoke inside, or not to have your pet, tell them they are contracting out and contact Barking Mad right away. If you are a good tenant, we can help.

Please see the members area for how to get the rental agreement in the legislation, not the made up one.