Service animals must be prescribed by a healthcare professional. They are trained to perform specific tasks. They have been trained in relation to a person’s disability and meet the accreditation criteria of their country/state/province.

They have access to all public places, even if animals are generally prohibited. They are also entitled to numerous exemptions from animal laws. Their right to access public places is established by the Commission des Droits de la Personne et des Droits de la Jeunesse (CDPDJ).

The most well-known type of service dog is the guide dog for the blind, but there are also service dogs for other conditions, such as epilepsy, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders, to name a few.

We are an organization located in Quebec City.

We can do the monitoring and training remotely, but the dog evaluation must be done in person.

If you are located outside of Quebec City, you will have the option of traveling to have your dog evaluated or asking the trainer to travel. Please note that if the trainer has to travel, this will incur travel costs that you will have to pay.

Your dog will need to be evaluated periodically during and at the end of training to receive accreditation, as well as once a year to maintain accreditation.

The criteria assessed are cleanliness, aggressiveness, possessiveness, predation, reactivity to noise, reactivity to touch, behavior in the presence of children, behavior in the presence of animals, ability to remain in public without barking excessively and behavior in various situations.

Please note that in certain specific cases the dog may be refused for other criteria.

Our program targets individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and individuals with autism. If you have one of these diagnoses and your healthcare professional has recommended the use of a service dog in your treatment, you may be eligible.

To be part of the Med-Dogs program, you will need to fill out the application forms and send them to us once completed. A section of these will need to be completed by a health professional.

Please note that the Med-Dogs program is based on the work that the handler does with his dog. The handler will train the dog himself, while being followed throughout the process by specialized dog trainers. This therefore requires time and energy. If the dog is for a person who does not have the ability to train their dog themselves, such as a child, the role of handler will have to be assumed by a third party.

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks. They are trained in relation to a person's disability and must pass an evaluation to certify that they meet the organization's criteria for accreditation. They have access to all public places, even if animals are generally prohibited. They are also entitled to many exemptions from animal laws.

Emotional support dogs are animals that comfort by their mere presence. They are not recognized in Quebec, and do not have additional access to public places. However, more and more establishments are accepting their presence. Emotional support dogs are, however, exempt from the clauses prohibiting animals on a lease. They do not require training or accreditation. You only need to have a medical note indicating that you need your animal to help you with your mental health.

Facility dogs are dogs that assist customers and/or staff in an establishment. They are widely used in workplaces where employees are faced with difficult situations and in establishments that serve people with mental health issues or who have been victims of crime. They may accompany employees and customers in establishments that they must visit as part of their duties, but they cannot accompany their handler at all times outside of work.

No. We train your dog. If you don't have one and want to join our program, we will help you choose the dog that best suits you from trusted breeders or a shelter.

Since the Med-Dogs program is based on the work the handler does with his dog and we train your dog, this varies from case to case, ranging from 6 months to 2 years.

Criteria that vary the time frame include the age of the dog, the level of training the dog has already achieved, the dog's behavioral problems, the abilities of the dog and the handler, and the number of hours of training done at home between training sessions.

While in training, the service dog does not have the same rights as a certified dog. It is not yet fully recognized by the courts as a means of palliating a disability.

Thus, access to public places and transport, places of work or leisure and to the accommodation of the person responsible for a dog in training could be conditional on the assessment of the situation.

As a person with a disability will eventually benefit from the training received by this dog, it is encouraged to allow him access to these places.

Anyone who uses a trained service or a trained guide dog to palliate their disability has the right to receive reasonable accommodation so that:

1. They can access, without discrimination:

• public places, like shops, restaurants, hotels and other tourist accommodations

• public transportation and taxis

• workplaces

• recreational places, like campsites and movie theatres

• housing

1. They can obtain goods or services that are ordinarily offered to the public at these places, without discrimination and at no additional cost.

https://www.cdpdj.qc.ca/en/your-obligations/prohibited-grounds/handicap-animaux

Med-Dogs dogs wear a blue vest with the organization's logo on it and their handlers have an identification card that includes, among other things, the handler's name, the dog's name, a photo of the dog and the organization's logo. If the dog is in training, this will be clearly indicated on its vest and card. The list of our certified and in-training dogs is also available on our website in the Our Dogs section.

The maximum age depends on the breed of the dog, as life expectancy varies from breed to breed, ranging from about 6 to about 20 years. Since your dog will need to retire at a certain age, the maximum age to enter the program is one-quarter (¼) of its maximum life expectancy.

For example, if your dog is a Labrador, with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, we divide 12 by 4 to get a maximum age of 3 years. If your dog is a Bernese Mountain Dog, with a life expectancy of 6 to 8 years, the maximum age is 2 years.

Retirement age depends on the health of the dog. Some dogs retire after only a few years and others remain in service for more than 10 years. If you notice that your dog is starting to have difficulty staying alert, lacks energy, has health problems or for any other reason you think it may be time for your dog to retire, contact us.

Since we currently do not have any trained adult service dogs and do not anticipate having any in the near future, you will need to obtain a dog in order to participate in the program. If you need help determining the right breed of dog for you and finding a good breeder, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Yes. We do not require that there be no other animals in the home for your dog to be trained. However, if you have another dog, the dog trainer may ask you to change certain habits so that the training goes as well as possible.

No. Medical forms must be completed by a health professional, either a psychologist, psychiatrist, family doctor or a specialist doctor related to your condition.

No, we only train dogs.