Wendy's delight as dogs get public transport nod
Wicklow Town woman Wendy Ryan has brought about a change to national regulations which forbade any dog bar guide dogs from travelling on public transport, be it the train, bus, dart or luas.
Wendy's two pet dogs, Bitsa and Nina, are both therapy dogs brought to old peoples homes and hospitals to interact with the patients. However, due to Wendy's disability she can't drive, and neither Bitsa or Nina were allowed travel on public transport, up until now that is.
After four months of lobbying all public transport providers, the Luas, Iarnoid Eireann, the Dart and Bus Eireann will now allow therapy dogs on board once they are wearing the officially recognised Peata coat.
Because I can't drive and the dogs weren't allowed on the buses or trains I was limited to only visiting Wicklow Hospital.
The news that the dogs will be allowed on is a big boost but I didn't just want the changes for me. I wanted it to happen on a national level so that's very satisfying. I know other people across the country have the same problem,' says Wendy.
Peata is the Irish organisation for pets and people and all the owners of therapy dogs have to do is dress their canine up in one of Peata's light coats in order to grant them access to all forms of public transport.
Wendy has no doubt that the interaction between the patients and the dogs proves particularly beneficial.
The fist time I brought Nina to Wicklow Hospital there was a great reaction.
The noise was so much the dog nearly ended up backing out of the room,' laughs Wendy at the memory.
But for ages afterwards all the patents discussed were the different pets they had down through the years.
It really livens them up and the dogs love it as well.'
Wendy's efforts have also been praised by Wicklow Disability Group's Charlie Burke.
These therapy dogs can be very helpful to people and Wendy has done a great job to ensure that these animals now have parity with all other assistance dogs.'
