Service Dogs are Passengers Too!

Service dogs are becoming more and more present in society and we now see many different breeds being trained for all kinds of important jobs! They help increase autonomy for those with mobility challenges and are also used for emotional support for people with different types of disabilities. At VIA, we welcome service animals on board, and we understand that making sure they have a safe and clean place to “relieve” themselves is a very important consideration for those who travel with them.

As VIA Rail works toward universal accessibility, we are testing out new ideas and pilot projects. In fact, this September we invited representatives with service dogs from the Canadian Council of Disabilities, Courageous Companions, the Canadian Council of the Blind and the Canadian Institute of the Blind to our station in Ottawa for a very special “pet relief station” pilot project. This project is exactly what it sounds like: a quiet place where service animals can relieve themselves, which is essential before or after a train journey with their owners!

A very collaborative approach was used for this test session, beginning with an open discussion with the participants to learn about their varying needs based on their own experiences and knowledge. Meanwhile, the pooches were invited to sniff, walk on, and hopefully “test out” the relief stations set up for them both inside (better for cold and rainy days) as well as outside Ottawa station. All the information gathered will be used to inform version 2 of the relief station, and soon thereafter, their installation in our stations.