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Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners have the legal right to go about daily life with their dog. But many still face refusal, confusion or unfair treatment when trying to use everyday services.
These experiences can affect confidence, independence and wellbeing, and make people feel excluded from ordinary activities.
Under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018, Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners have the right to access businesses and services without discrimination.
Access rights apply in places such as:
Ireland is signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This supports the right of disabled people to accessibility, inclusion and participation in society.
When someone is refused access because they have a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog, those rights are not being respected.
RTE News item, 4 Dec 2023, featuring access rights for Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners
If you have experienced an access issue, we are here to help. We can support you in reporting what happened and help you understand the next steps. You can also contact our team if you have questions about your rights.
We provide accessibility guides and practical information to help businesses and service providers support Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners. This helps their staff understand their responsibilities and creates a more welcoming experience for everyone.
Click the Supporting Businesses link below to find out what businesses in your area are displaying our Show Your Paw for Access Rights window sticker.
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Awareness makes a real difference. By sharing information with family, friends, colleagues and local businesses, you can help more people understand access rights.
Businesses can also show their support by displaying our Show Your Paw for Access Rights window sticker.
Report an issue
If you have been refused access or had a poor experience, tell us what happened and we can help.
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Range of factsheets which help various businesses and establishments to assist Guide and Assistance Dog owners.
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Find out what businesses and organisations across the country are supporting our access rights campaign.
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This Advocacy Charter outlines our commitment to using advocacy to drive positive change for our clients.
No. Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners have the legal right to access businesses and services without discrimination.
You can report the incident to us. We can help you understand your options and support you in taking the next step.
Yes. This includes buses, trains, trams, taxis, planes and ferries.
Yes. This includes hotels, hostels, Airbnbs and holiday rental properties.
No. Businesses and service providers must not discriminate against Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners.
We provide accessibility guides and information to help businesses understand their responsibilities and support dog owners properly.
Businesses can display our Show Your Paw for Access Rights window sticker to show they support legal access rights.
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Our team can answer questions and help you understand your rights.
