Assistance dogs in Russia: legal environment review and perspectives

Abstract

The article aims to highlight the gaps in Russia’s policy regarding assistance dogs and subsequently seeks to identify ways to improve this policy. First, a retrospective policy analysis was conducted to outline a regulatory framework on assistance dogs in Russia and to highlight the gaps and contradictions in it. Next, the three key policy areas covered by the assistance dog legislation were compared in Russian, Australian, UK, and US policies to reveal ways to improve the situation in Russia. According to the comparative analysis, issues such as unclear definitions, denial of public access, and the absence of universal certification standards are common in all countries compared. In Russia, active participation in the international community and raising awareness about assistance dog issues are necessary to allow assistance dog owners to fully exercise their rights, as codified in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Despite the long history of guide dog training, the number of guide dogs in Russia is relatively small. Other assistance dogs are not recognized.

• The first specific provisions on guide dogs emerged in Russian legislation only after a shift from the medical to the social approach to disability and the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

• The legislative framework on assistance dogs in Russia covers three policy areas: legal recognition, certification and training, public access, and transportation.

• The comparative analysis of assistance dog legislation in Russia, Australia, the USA, and the UK revealed that most of the problems indicated are common for all countries compared. Some issues are specific to Russia, such as the lack of recognition of any assistance dogs other than guide dogs.

• The assistance dog legislation in Russia does not correspond fully to the CRPD. International cooperation and actions on the national level are necessary for improvement.

Keywords:

• Disability law
• guide dogs
• service animals
• social welfare
• disability

Acknowledgements

I thank Dr. Tiffani Howell (La Trobe University, Australia) and Margarita Varava (University of California, Berkeley, USA) for useful comments and discussions. I also thank Reviewers for taking the time and effort necessary to review the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.