ADUK Statement: 11th February 2026.
Last year in the UK, 79% of people who are partnered with an assistance dog were denied access to a public place.*
This must change.
ADUK believes that we urgently need clearer definitions in law of assistance dogs, alongside consistent standards for training and welfare that all working assistance dogs can aim to meet – whether trained by ADUK members or otherwise. We continue to advocate for this clarity and consistency in order to ensure that disabled people are able to access public places with their trained assistance dogs.
In the meantime, ADUK works to educate service providers about their legal obligations under the current law. We do this by sharing information about the Equality Act 2010 and statutory guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
We do not offer legal advice, and we are explicit about that.
Recently, JD Wetherspoon has misrepresented ADUK and its position. Despite JD Wetherspoon choosing not to use the information we provided them with, they have implied that their new policy – which demands evidence of training before access is granted – reflects ADUK policy and legal advice. This is not the case. ADUK does not inform service providers to restrict access only to assistance dog partnerships trained by ADUK members.
To be clear: under the Equality Act 2010, disabled people are not required to carry identification or documentation for their assistance dog. This is not ADUK’s opinion; it reflects statutory guidance, and this is the guidance we encourage organisations to follow.
JD Wetherspoon also appears to conflate a rise in general dog bite statistics with the presence of highly trained assistance dogs, dogs which, according to the EHRC are able to work safely and reliably in public environments. While it may be the case that some individuals misrepresent poorly trained dogs as assistance dogs, disabled people partnered with trained assistance dogs should not bear the consequences of that misuse – misuse which is only possible because of the ambiguity of the law.
We remain committed to working constructively with service providers and the wider assistance dog community to resolve these issues. In the meantime, we are available to support organisations in developing policies and practices that align with current legislation and guidance – ensuring lawful access while maintaining high standards of safety and welfare.
*ADI & IGDF Paws for Access Survey
See what assistance dogs are all about
Watch the video below
Assistance dogs are highly trained to support disabled people and people with medical conditions in a variety of ways.
Assistance Dogs UK is a coalition of assistance dog organisations that have been accredited by
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and/or The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).
ADUK members are non-profit organisations that work to the highest standards of
assistance dog training and welfare. From guide dogs to medical alert dogs, from autism dogs to hearing dogs, our members train assistance dogs that change, and often save, the lives of their owners.
