A private hire taxi company has been fined by Preston Magistrates' Court, after refusing a passenger travelling with a guide dog.
In November 2018, Terri Balon tried to book a private hire taxi from Preston but was refused after she told them she was travelling with a guide dog. In their recent decision, Preston Magistrates’ Court decided against the private hire operator, ordering them to pay £1779. This included a fine of £200 and compensation of £1000 – which as far as we’re aware is the highest amount awarded in a taxi refusal case.
Terri, who happens to be RNIB’s Regional Campaigns Officer for the North West of England, had made clear to the private hire company that she should have the same access to taxi services as everyone else. But she was still refused.
Guide dogs are a vital mobility aid for their users and being turned away can leave people unable to do everyday activities and undermine their independence.
Under the Equality Act 2010, private hire operators and taxi drivers cannot refuse a booking from a disabled person because they are travelling with an assistance dog or charge more money for the journey. A driver must have a valid exemption certificate if they are unable to take an assistance dog for medical reasons.
Unfortunately, Terri's experience isn’t uncommon, or restricted to private hire vehicles. New figures show 76 percent of guide dog users have been illegally turned away by businesses and services.
In Terri’s case, she was determined to challenge her refusal, which led to the decision against the private hire company. The company has apologised and said it has taken steps to prevent this happening again.
Terri said:
“Irrespective of how confident or resilient you are, the constant risk of being refused because you rely on your guide dog has a corrosive effect on that confidence, and one’s ability to be independent. This happened whilst I was working and supporting two volunteers who are partially sighted and registered blind. So, the refusal also highlights how it can impact our ability to carry out and retain our jobs, in a climate where 1 in 4 people who are blind and partially sighted are not working.”
RNIB and Guide Dogs are teaming up in a new fight against guide dog users being illegally turned away from businesses or services, such as taxis, shops and restaurants.
We’ve launched our Equality Act toolkit, for guide dog users across England, Scotland and Wales, and the Disability Discrimination toolkit, for guide dog users in Northern Ireland. These toolkits provide information and advice to help people understand their legal rights and include practical information to challenge access refusals.
For more information, or to receive the toolkit in a different format, you can speak to the RNIB Sight Loss Advice Service by calling 0303 123 9999 from 8am to 8pm weekdays, and 9am to 1pm Saturday.
FAQs
Previous studies on guide dog training have reported success rates of 50-56% for dogs in training (Ennik et al., 2006; Batt et al., 2008a). More recently, a global survey of guide dog organisations from 15 countries revealed success rates of 23-100% (Batt et al., 2010). ... ...
What is the failure rate for guide dogs? ›
Only 70 per cent of dogs that enter training successfully complete the programme. Unexpectedly, it's puppies that receive the most care and attention from their mothers that are more likely to fail. Guide dogs need to be able to solve problems and navigate obstacles while also being calm and obedient.
What are the problems with guide dogs? ›
The undesirable behaviours shown in the working guide dog population, such as anxiety and Fear/Aggression, are also seen in the pet population. Fear and aggression issues are a common reason for relinquishing younger dogs even if a pet owner might manage stronger intensities of these behaviours than a guide dog owner.
What percentage of guide dogs pass? ›
Qualification rates
Our success rate for guide dogs qualifying has climbed to around 60%, from a Covid low of 47% seen around the world. We're on track to reach our pre-pandemic rate of around 70% (with the dogs currently being matched having grown up when we were still facing Covid restrictions and lockdowns).
What is the average wait for a guide dog? ›
The article highlighted that The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (also known simply as Guide Dogs) reported that the average wait time for a guide dog increased from 12 months to 18.
How long can you leave a guide dog alone? ›
Generally, during the day, periods of time up to 4 hours are acceptable. At night during bedtime, most dogs will do just fine for periods of 8-10 hours on tie down or in a crate as this is normally a quiet time for everyone. If you only plan to leave your dog alone occasionally, it is still important to prepare him.
What happens to guide dog dropouts? ›
Luckily, nothing bad! They go up for adoption. Just because they didn't make the Guiding Eyes cut doesn't mean they're not fine pets. They're healthy, calm, confident, and polite.
Do guide dogs ever make mistakes? ›
Service dogs are highly trained, but sometimes they make mistakes! Corrections might seem abrupt and startle a guide dog, but you can rest assured that the handler has also been properly trained in giving corrections and that he or she would never do anything to hurt the dog.
How old are most guide dogs when they retire? ›
Retirement process
The retirement of every dog will be individual to you and your dog. However, there are some steps that are common: Our staff will come to visit you more often and your guide dog will have more vet visits as your partnership is beginning to slow down and age, from around 8 years old.
Why can't guide dogs be touched? ›
Don't approach or pet a service dog.
They're trained to stay attuned to the needs of their human, so petting or playing with them can distract them from their job. If you're interested in learning more, make sure to address the person first and always ask for permission before interacting with their service animal.
Unless they are really desperate and have not been given the opportunity to go to the toilet for a prolonged period of time, guide dogs will as a general rule only go to the toilet on command where pooping is concerned!
Can guide dogs be aggressive? ›
Guide dog puppies are selectively bred to ensure they have a balanced temperament. In addition, trainers, owners and puppy walkers are trained not to create situations in which a puppy feels it needs to show aggression. As a result, severe aggressive behaviours are rarely seen in guide dogs and guide dog puppies.
Do guide dogs ever get to play? ›
Daily exercise and play are as important as nutrition, grooming and other activities in raising a healthy, well- behaved GDB puppy. Guide dogs are active animals.
How bad does your vision have to be to get a guide dog? ›
You must be legally blind (visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or restriction in the visual field of less than 20 degrees).
What dog is tested on the most? ›
The most common breed of dog used for experiments is the beagle, because beagles are docile and small, allowing for more animals to be housed and cared for using less space and money.
Are guide dogs effective? ›
Guide dog mobility
The handler can be confident that their guide dog will: recognise obstacles in their path and guide the handler safely around them. have good traffic awareness and safety. understand and respond to commands such as 'forward', 'straight to the curb', 'find the door' and 'find the counter'
What is the success rate of search and rescue dogs? ›
Search and rescue dogs have an accuracy rate of 91 percent on average, although it can be anywhere between 75% - 100%. While the success of a SAR mission often depends on the team as a whole, having a well-trained and accurate K9 Unit can make all the difference.
Are guide dogs worth it? ›
Guide dog users described the emotional benefits that were at least as significant as the practical benefits of guide dog travel. These included companionship, confidence, perceived safety, and a sense of not being alone during stressful or uncertain travel experiences.
