The assistance dogs could cost more than $20,000. (File photo) Photo: 123RF
- Clients of dog trainer stripped of right to train disability assistance dogs say they were given animals that don't meet their needs
- They also claim they have not received documentation or ID, which is causing problems when trying to take the dogs into places they're expected to go
- One woman says, though, her foster son's life has changed thanks to a dog from K9 Search Medical Detection
Some clients of a Manawatū dog trainer stripped of its ability to certify disability assistance dogs say they were given dogs not trained to meet their needs.
K9 Search Medical Detection was dropped from the list of organisations allowed to train such dogs, which have access rights to public places under the Dog Control Act, in December last year.
But the dogs it certified before this were allowed to keep their assistance status.
The dogs could support people with physical disabilities or medical conditions, and had the right to enter spaces such as schools, hospitals, public transport and shops.
While some clients feel abandoned, there was also support for the organisation's work.
'Stressed and alone'
One woman, who received a disability assistance dog from K9 Search Medical Detection, realised straight away there were problems with her dog.
"My dog has no road safety and literally just runs out into it [the road] without looking or stopping or anything like that," said the woman, who RNZ agreed not to identify due to her concerns it could jeopardise her getting future support from K9 Search Medical Detection - something it must do, despite losing its accreditation.
"It wasn't trained to provide me, to be honest, anything that I actually needed."
The woman said she never received documentation confirming her dog was a registered disability assistance animal, which had proven problematic when she tried to book it on to flights, as she should be entitled to do.
She tried to train her dog as best she could, but didn't receive the help required, she said.
"I found it very difficult and it was very hard to get any extra training."
The woman said her initial meeting with the trainer was brief. After that, she was left to her own devices.
"It was incredibly stressful for months.
"It just seemed like I was at an absolute loss and going through everyone to try and see what I can do, and coming up nowhere."
The dogs could cost more than $20,000, although they were largely funded through Lotteries grants.
Another woman who had a disability assistance dog from K9 Search Medical Detection, who RNZ also agreed not to identify, said her dog also didn't meet her needs.
"At that point I was in the position to do training alone. My health issues weren't as bad as they are now, but I still did not receive nearly enough support.
"It just felt like I was given this young dog and then was just kind of left in the dark a bit."
She said she never received invoices or receipts from K9 Search Medical Detection, that its founder Pete Gifford was hard to contact when support was needed, and she'd only received a hand-written note to say her dog was accredited as a disability assistance animal.
She and other vulnerable people had been left stranded, she said.
"It's left me feeling incredibly stressed. Before I knew other people were having all these issues and lack of support from him, I ended up kind of blaming myself or trying to second guess myself.
"I felt like I was just alone, completely alone, and trying to train my dog."
High-needs boy's social skills 'skyrocket' with assistance dog
The Department of Internal Affairs - which oversaw the list of accredited assistance dog trainers - said K9 Search Medical Detection didn't provide sufficient evidence of appropriate practices and record keeping.
Gifford previously told RNZ he didn't provide officials with requested records because he no longer wanted to be on the list of disability assistance dog trainers.
Gifford declined to comment for this story, but another of his clients said she was happy with the dog provided for her high-needs foster son.
Auckland social worker Carmel Olsen said K9 Search Medical Detection quickly stepped up after she'd had difficulties with other organisations, and she was in regular contact with Gifford.
"He doesn't always respond quickly. I'm not saying he is perfect in everything he's done, but neither was the other organisation we were with.
"All organisations fall down in different areas. I think Pete's probably would have been paperwork. But that's not to say what we did with him wasn't rigourous."
The dog, Kevin, had helped her foster son deal with problems such anxiety.
Kevin had even allowed him to develop his speech as people regularly approached to ask about the dog.
"We now had a dog and people could see that - wearing the vest."
Because of that people saw the boy differently.
"They were kinder. They were more willing to engage, and so his social skills just skyrocketed."
An Internal Affairs spokesperson said each training organisation issued a coat for dogs to wear, with the organisation's name on it, and some form of identification for the handler.
"Organisations should have agreements and policies in place to address any concerns that may occur between handlers and the organisation."
Anyone not satisfied with the service they'd received should look at their rights under consumer protection laws, the spokesperson said.
The department was still working through complaints it had received about K9 Search Medical Detection and wouldn't comment further.
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