Disability rights groups are calling for stronger legal protections and a national register for assistance dogs amid growing reports of people with learning disabilities and other conditions being refused entry to shops, restaurants and public transport. Led by Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), campaigners argue that existing laws are unclear and fail to prevent widespread discrimination against those who rely on trained animals for daily independence and wellbeing.

Former police officer Garry Botterill, founder of Service Dogs UK, said clearer legislation and an official register would help both dog handlers and businesses. “At the moment, anyone can buy a jacket online and claim their pet is an assistance dog. This makes it harder for service providers to distinguish genuine, well-trained dogs from unregulated ones,” he said. The lack of consistent standards, he added, often leads to confusion and unnecessary access refusals.

British Army veteran and paramedic Jordan Chapman, who relies on his PTSD assistance dog Teddy, said the issue affects people across the disability spectrum, including those with learning disabilities. He described being refused entry to restaurants and shops despite Teddy’s training, calling such experiences “humiliating and common”.

Campaigners are pressing MPs to define assistance dogs more clearly in law, ensuring recognised training standards and protecting disabled people from discrimination. ADUK said it supports legal reform to strengthen equality and accessibility for all.