Joanne Marshall fights assist dog certification barriers
Joanne Marshall Fights Disability Assist Dog Certification Barriers
Joanne Marshall, a deaf woman in New Zealand with a complex health condition, is facing barriers to getting her toy poodle, Kiko, registered as a disability assist dog, RNZ reported. Marshall adopted Kiko as a puppy and trained him to respond to her signs and voice commands, including tasks like gently pulling on her socks and trousers to help her undress, alerting her to cars while walking, and using his sense of smell to detect dangerous changes in her blood pressure. While New Zealand recognizes eight organizations that certify and train disability assist dogs to provide public access rights for handlers, only one organization considers dogs already trained inside a disabled person’s home.
The Battle with Certification Agencies and Training Mandates
Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust stands as the sole organization in the country that evaluates client-trained dogs for certification. However, the trust declined Marshall’s application last month after reviewing video footage of Kiko. In its response to a complaint lodged by Marshall with the Health and Disability Commissioner, the trust stated that the videos showed Kiko was not yet ready and needed to complete an independent dog obedience training programme first. Programme manager Belinda Simpson explained that an assistance dog’s primary job is to stay focused on its handler without experiencing high levels of stress. A veterinary behaviourist who reviewed the footage identified concerns regarding Kiko’s stress levels, avoidance, and anxiety-related behavior outside the home.
Based on the video footage, [the vet] identified concerns about the levels of stress he showed, and avoidance and anxiety-related behaviour, particularly outside the home.
Marshall countered that she could not access the required obedience training because New Zealand Sign Language interpreters were not provided and government funding for that cost was unavailable. She also noted that other specialized agencies, such as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand, only focus on sounds around the home rather than neurological or complex multi-disability alerts. “The biggest barrier at the high level is the silo of all these organisations doing a singular disability,” Marshall said.
Regulatory Review by the Ministry
The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport administers the Dog Control Act, which establishes the legislative framework for disability assist dogs. Richard Ward, the ministry’s general manager for local government policy and partnerships, stated that the agency is actively examining whether gaps and challenges exist within the current regulatory regime. This review evaluates the oversight of authorized organizations, barriers to public access and inclusion, and methods for maintaining public confidence in recognized assistance dogs.
Data from the ministry shows that in late 2025, six of the eight certifying organizations maintained waitlists totaling 78 people waiting for a disability assist dog. Resource constraints, limited capacity, and a reliance on donations, funding, and volunteers continue to restrict how quickly organizations can meet growing demand across the country.
Future Options and Impact on Daily Life
Without official certification, Marshall cannot legally take Kiko into public spaces like libraries, galleries, or public transport. “The life that I used to have is pretty much closed in,” she said, adding that she is largely restricted to online research. Her neurologist and general practitioner both support her application, noting that Kiko’s medical alerts have saved her from frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical procedures.
Simpson noted that Perfect Partners currently trains or has placed more than 40 dogs owned by disabled people and does not carry a waiting list. The trust intends to submit formal feedback to the ministry’s ongoing review, advocating for minimum training standards, strict organizational oversight, and annual reassessments to remain central to any future framework protecting handlers, dogs, and the public.