Why don't they walk those dogs themselves?

 

"Why don't they walk those dogs themselves?"

It's a great question. You'd think that a teenager would be able to walk their dog by themselves. However when said teenager enters into emotional or sensory overload and need their Assistance Dog to redirect behaviour and assist in emotional regulation, said teenager, at that moment in time, cannot keep themselves safe yet alone an Assistance Dog.

There is absolutely nothing in either the Queensland Guide Hearing Assistance Dog Act or the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act, that states the minimum age of an Assistance Dog handler. 

But it's morally unethical to expect a teenager (or a child,) to be the handler for their Assistance Dog and keep themselves both safe when in emotional or sensory overload.

Both L and O are the primary handlers for Henry and Alaska and they are both very capable as handlers. But for the moment both Mum and Dad are the additional handlers.

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