Pet Passport scheme works
well for assistance dogs

WITH the introduction of the Pets Passport scheme and the fairly recent announcement made by the Government and airline industry that assistance dogs would be permitted to travel in the aircraft cabins on international flights, the floodgates are now truly opened and more and more disabled people are taking the opportunity to travel further afield with their helping hounds at their side. Recently a little bit of history was made by the arrival of the first-ever American service dog to visit the UK and Petersfield - a golden retriever.

Hazel Weiss from California, a multiple sclerosis sufferer who is currently studying for a Masters degree in Assistance Dog Education at ADI, travelled with her husband Sam, a volunteer advanced puppy petter at ADI and volunteer worker in fundraising and public relations for ADI. With them both was Hams, a seven-year-old golden retriever from the Assistance Dog Institute (ADI) programme in Santa Rosa, California.

Every year Assistance Dog International (ADI) and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) hold a conference in the USA and it was during these conferences that a friendship between the Parton and Weiss families was forged. Hazel Weiss said that after having heard so much about our very own home grown Endal, a get-together just had to be planned and was made a reality during their visit to the UK. Allen said that folk from overseas were beginning to think Endal was a myth, as he had been unable to accompany Allen on his trips to the USA for various reasons, so this was a wonderful opportunity to prove the UK "Superdog" really does exist.

After touching down at Heathrow the process for clearing golden retriever Hams went without a hitch and the Heathrow veterinary team was efficient and helpful. Before he knew it, Hams was able to sniff the grass and do what dogs have to do after a long haul flight.

The Weiss's first night in England was spent at historic Langish House hotel, near Petersfield in Hampshire and the American visitors were just so delighted to have had the opportunity to stay in what was previously a stately home and reputedly a haunted one at that!

Not wanting to waste a second of the holiday the Weiss family was invited to tour Canine Partners' training centre in Midhurst as guests of Sandra Parton, the charity's puppy operations manager. Showing no signs of slacking the pace this was rapidly followed by a visit to the historic Portsmouth Dockyard and a tour of HMS Victory, finishing the very full-on day by meeting Allen Parton and Endal at the Great Oak Hotel, Petersfield, for dinner.

Allen said how delighted he was at the reception that all the assistance dogs received by all the staff and customers at the Great Oak Hotel. Hazel was so bowled over at how genuinely friendly and accommodating everyone was, especially as the harness Hams was wearing is not a familiarly recognised one in this country. Ikea, Hams and Endal hit it off immediately and settled quickly in to each other's company like long lost friends. "Animals can teach we humans a thing or two about getting on with each other," Allen said.

All too quickly the time had approached to say goodbye and then Hazel, Sam and Hams set off to stay with their cousin in Birmingham for the remainder of their visit, which will include a tour of Scotland.

Allen said, "Having worked so hard to make flying with assistance dogs not only a reality but also such an easy and pleasurable experience too, I am just so pleased now to see the results first hand and to know that the system works and the skies really do open for international travel for all assistance dog partnerships worldwide. Hazel and Hams' visit to Petersfield just shows what can be achieved through co-operation and co-ordination between organisations such as ADI, IAADP, DEFRA and the airline industry."