Paralympian: Post-Brexit Rules Prevent Flying with Guide Dog 'Max'

A Paralympian has encountered significant travel difficulties due to post-Brexit regulations that prevent him from flying with his guide dog, 'Max.' These new rules are impacting his independence and mobility, making it challenging for him to travel and participate in events. The guide dog, essential for his daily life and sports activities, is now restricted, highlighting the broader issues faced by individuals relying on assistance animals due to changes in travel policies.

Mar Gunnarsson, a swimmer and student in Manchester, is scheduled to compete at the Paris Games, and he says his career is in jeopardy.

Boston Brand Media discovered the trending news - A Paralympic swimmer scheduled to compete in this summer's Games has said his career is at risk due to a post-Brexit policy change that prevents him from flying in and out of the UK with his guide dog.

Mar Gunnarsson, a visually impaired Icelandic national studying in Manchester, has been unable to attend sporting championships to represent his country because the UK authorities do not recognize his guide dog as a service animal.

Government restrictions, labeled "nonsensical" by disability groups, have also prevented him from flying home to Iceland with his dog.

Disabled travelers are prohibited from boarding flights to and from the UK with an assistance dog if the organization that trained the dog is not recognized by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Since Brexit, they are also required to obtain an animal health certificate from a vet for each trip to the EU, which replaces the European pet passport and can cost up to £200.

Gunnarsson, 24, who is also a musician, regularly travels for performances and sporting events. However, he said he has been unable to travel since February after the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) tightened its rules on assistance dogs.

The new requirements, outlined in a memorandum of understanding between the Animal and Plant Health Agency (part of Defra) and UK and EU airlines, restrict cabin access to dogs trained by member organizations of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) and Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Previously, CAA guidelines allowed airlines to carry any formally certified guide dog.

Gunnarsson’s dog, Max, is owned by the National Institute for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Deafblind in Iceland. These dogs are trained by an official Swedish organization not affiliated with either the IGDF or ADI.

A similar requirement in European Commission regulations was scrapped in 2016 after complaints that it excluded thousands of dogs accredited by government-appointed bodies.

These restrictions have significantly impacted passengers and triggered hundreds of complaints, according to an airline insider.

Service dogs not trained by an IGDF or ADI member must travel in the cargo hold for a substantial charge. Owners also face an additional fee of more than £400 for a pre-approval document from the airport, making flights unaffordable for many. Airlines based in non-EU countries must seek separate permission from APHA to carry service dogs.

“Max has a signed certificate confirming his status from the Icelandic government, but the UK government disregards this,” Gunnarsson said.

“This blatant discrimination is more disabling than blindness. I have reached my limit with sighted individuals in powerful positions throwing obstacles in the path of blind people striving for independence. Max is my eyes and has made my life significantly easier by guiding me through various challenging situations. I refuse to trade him for any randomly assigned guide dog with a bureaucratic stamp from an office in Reading.”

Gunnarsson now has to take a train to mainland Europe to catch a connecting service or flight in order to travel with Max, and he said the extra time and cost involved are affecting his studies.

Boston Brand Media also found that according to Samantha Fothergill, the senior legal adviser for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the UK rules may contravene equality laws. “It’s a breach of EU regulations on air travel for airlines to refuse to carry a recognized assistance dog. This legislation still applies in the UK post-Brexit. We urgently need the government to issue clarification to air carriers confirming that all recognized assistance dogs are permitted to travel, including Max.”

The rules were brought in to prevent non-disabled passengers from passing off pets as assistance dogs to avoid cargo charges. In the US, disability rights legislation preventing airlines from requesting proof of official training has led to widespread exploitation and put other passengers at risk.

Campaigners are calling for urgent action to agree on an internationally accepted definition of an assistance dog to prevent exclusion and confusion. The European standardization body, CEN, is working with disability groups on an international training standard which could be voluntarily adopted by any country. However, this could take years to implement.

The CAA has been reviewing its new policy after lobbying from airlines. An announcement expected this month has been delayed due to the election. The CAA declined to comment for the same reason.

Gunnarsson said that change needs to happen quickly. “I cannot afford to put my life on hold while waiting for diplomats to review their policies,” he said. “The thought breaks my heart that I might have to give Max away if the obstacles in our path become too challenging to overcome.”

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Source: theguardian‍