Legal regulation on assistance dogs in EU and Lithuania

One of the most common types of assistance dogs is the guide dog. These highly trained dogs are commonly used by people with visual impairments, granting them a renewed sense of self-reliance and assurance. In addition to guide dogs, there are other assistance animals such as mobility assistance dogs, whose abilities extend to opening doors, supporting human stability, and retrieving items. Therapy dogs play a crucial role in the healthcare system. These dogs provide emotional support to patients in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and nursing homes. Spending time with dogs helps with a range of negative emotions, and can alleviate stress, anxiety and loneliness.

The term ‘assistance dog’ is defined as a dog specifically trained to perform tasks to increase independence and to mitigate the limitations of a person with a disability, although it should be noted that ‘assistance dog’ is an umbrella term.1 All EU Member States have signed and ratified the UN Convention covering the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNBR) which grants not only people with physical disabilities, but also people with sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities/chronic illness, the right to animal assistance and the right to participate in an equal way as people with no disabilities.