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European Guide Dog Federation News
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Spring Newsletter

Welcome to our first newletter of 2021.

Sadly 2020 was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
Let's hope 2021 is a better year for all. 

In this newsletter we have details of:

Annual General Meeting - 2021

As we had to postpone the planned conference last year, this meant that we did not hold the AGM. We will hold the AGM as a virtual event in early April and plan to host the next conference in the Autumn
 
We would like as many members as possible to attend, so we have created a poll to ask for your availability on these dates and times:
  • Wednesday 7th April 10:00 - 11:30 GMT+1 (BST)
  • Wednesday 7th April 16:00 - 17:30 GMT+1 (BST)
  • Thursday 8th April 10:00 - 11:30 GMT+1 (BST)
  • Thursday 8th April 16:00 - 17:30 GMT+1 (BST)
  • Friday 9th April 10:00 - 11:30 GMT+1 (BST)
  • Friday 9th April 16:00 - 17:30 GMT+1 (BST)
Please complete the poll below by Sunday 7th March. We will then confirm the preferred date and send all members the documents and joining instructions.

AGM Poll

Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
Picture of Sad Dog with Pet Passport
Travelling in and out of Europe following Brexit

Following the UK’s exit from the EU at the end of 2020, the rules applying to travelling with a guide or assistance dog have changed.

These are detailed in the links below, however, always check with your vet before you plan to travel.

The new rules discriminate against persons with disabilities who wish to travel from the UK into Europe with their guide dog, as a new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) must be obtained for each and every trip out of the UK.

For most people travelling with a dog is a choice; for a person with disabilities who relies on their guide dog, this is an essential.

This means that short notice trips will be impossible to arrange, whether for business, pleasure or family matters. Each trip will incur a substantial additional cost, extra planning and time taken spent in the process involved obtaining the AHC.

This is in addition to the current discrimination often experienced when travelling with a guide dog and highlights the inequalities suffered compared with other travellers.

EGDF is engaging with MEP’s, the European Disability Forum, the European Blind Union and other Assistance Dog Organisations to campaign to create a level playing field.

Travellers to Europe or Northern Ireland from the UK with their guide or assistance dog will no longer be able to use a UK issued EU Pet Passport.


Detailed guidance for travelling into Europe or Northern Ireland can be found here

For those travelling from the Europe into the UK however, rules have not changed and are detailed in the link below

Detailed Guidance for travelling into the UK from Europe or Northern Ireland can be found here
International Guide Dog Federation
Proposed International Standard for Assistance Dogs

Many of our members have been participating in the development of the European standard for assistance dogs, CEN/TC 452. After long discussions it has been agreed to use the term “assistance dog” to include guide dogs and other types of assistance dog.  It was always envisaged that an international standard would follow the completion of the work on CEN TC/452.  
However, the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) have asked Netherlands Standards Board (NEN) to commence the ISO process by submitting Form 1 to the ISO. This has now been circulated to the national standards agencies of all countries involved in ISO standards.

For the standard to proceed Form 1 has to be approved by participating countries no later than April 8, 2021.

EGDF were instrumental in the development of the CEN/TC 452 European Standard for assistance dogs and continue to both work towards and support this. At this stage, it is unclear whether an international standard will dilute or enhance the development of the CEN/TC 452.

NEN are holding second web meeting on this proposed standard on: Thursday 4 March 2021 (9:30 AM, Amsterdam). If you would like to attend, the details are as follows:


Register in advance for this meeting

This presentation that was given during the first web meeting can be dowloaded by clicking on the link below:

NEN Presentation
Form 1 ISO proposal


Assistance Dogs International have decided not to support the international standard at this time because of the costs involved and disruption that could be caused to the European standard.  

Please read their information below to better understand the situation.


ADI Position Paper
ADI frequently asked questions


We would like to canvass your views on this and ask you to complete the poll below before Friday 12th March.

ISO Poll

We will lobby according to the wishes of our members, so your vote is very important!

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us for further elaboration
 
Picture of Bicycle with globe image as wheels
Member's Corner
One of our supporters, Killian Lecoq, is about to embark on an ambitious adventure, a bike tour of Europe accompanied by a dog, of a breed
 that could be trained as an assistance dog.

Currently a student, Killian is considering joining the fire department, ideally as part of a dog team. However, before he does that he would like to see the world, and he is starting with Europe, raising funds along the way dedicated to the education of guide dogs for the blind.

Killian says: "Having travelled little so far, I am giving myself a year to experience this adventure through as many counties as possible in the hope of discovering other cultures as well as having enriching exchanges with people from all walks of life. This trip will be done with a four-legged companion, first of all for company, but also to educate the dog with the help of many different associations on the way"

Killian is actively fundraising to support his travels and has pledged some of the money raised during his adventure to EGDF. 

His planned route is shown on the map below and he would love to hear from any members he could meet up with on the way.

Killian's crowdfunding page can be found here: Killian Lecoq

We wish Killian luck and look forward to hearing all about this adventures!
Map of Europe with planned route






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European Guide Dog Federation · Marston Grange · Shuckburgh Road · Priors Marston, Warwickshire CV47 7RS · United Kingdom

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