The Ideal Accommodations for Veterinary Hospital to Satisfy the Mobility Service Dog and Hearing Dog Users’ Needs

Abstract

In Japan, the number of service dogs is increasing yearly, but many cases of denial of access are still reported. In 2009, a research about the needs of guide dog users in veterinary hospitals was reported, but a similar research the report for mobility service and hearing dog users have not yet conducted. We conducted this survey in the form of a non-structural interview or questionnaire for fourteen mobility service and eight hearing dog users about the experiences and expectations of medical consultation in veterinary hospitals. As a result, we found that mobility service dog users required facility reliability, and that hearing dog users required assistance for communication. However these matters were found to be resolved by the support of veterinary hospital staff. It is thought that those veterinary hospitals capable of providing such support may be considered access-friendly for all owners of animals.