More topics

Guide Dog and Service Dog Supplement

Last updated on May 7, 2025

Overview

A guide dog or service dog supplement is provided to assist with the monthly maintenance of a certified guide or service dog and/or retired guide or service dog when all eligibility criteria are met.

Policy

Expand All | Collapse All
 

Eligibility

Effective:  April 1, 2024

A monthly supplement of the amount shown in Rate Table – General Health Supplements: Guide Dog or Service Dog Supplement may be issued to recipients of income assistance, hardship assistance, or disability assistance to assist with the maintenance of a guide or service dog when part of a guide dog team, service dog team and/or retired guide or service dog team certified under the Guide Dog and Service Dog Act (GDSDA).  

The guide dog and service dog supplement is not intended to help care for pets.

The Security Programs Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General issues certificates for guide dog teams, service dog teams and retired guide or service dog teams under the GDSDA.

To be certified as a guide dog team or service dog team, the team must either:

  • Have been trained by an accredited or recognized school as defined in the Guide Dog and Service Dog Regulation, or
  • Hold a valid identification card issued by an accredited or recognized training school as defined in the Guide Dog and Service Dog Regulation, or
  • Pass a test administered by Obedience Unleashed Dog Training (OUDT). 

For guide dog and service dog teams that are to undergo a test administered by OUDT, the Guide Dog or Service Dog Supplement may be issued up to 2 months before the date of the test. 

A retired guide dog or service dog team refers to a person and dog that were previously members of the same guide or service dog team that still live together and hold a valid retired guide or service dog certification under the GDSDA.

Procedures

Expand All | Collapse All
 

Issuing Guide Dog and Service Dog Supplement

Effective: April 1, 2024

The supplement may be issued for a certified guide dog team, a service dog team, and a retired guide dog or service dog team. Confirmation of certification issued under the Guide Dog and Service Dog Act is needed to obtain the supplement. This supplement will be reviewed every 2 years as certification for guide dog team/service dog team is required to be renewed every 2 years to be valid.  To continue to receive the supplement, recipients will need to submit confirmation of recertification.

For Guide and service dog teams that are to undergo a test administered by Obedience Unleashed Dog Training (OUDT), the Guide Dog or Service Dog Supplement may be issued up to 2 months before the date of the test.  Recipients will be eligible for the supplement when the ministry is provided with a letter from OUDT confirming a test is booked. If a test is failed and the recipient rebooks a test, the supplement can be reissued.  

A retired dog guide or service dog team refers to a person and dog that were previously members of the same guide or service dog team that still live together and hold a valid retired guide or service dog certification under the GDSDA.