By Lynn Curwin for digitaljournal.com
Brandon, Manitoba – It took a two-month battle before a nine-year-old boy with Down syndrome could have his service dog in a Manitoba school with him, just because the dog had been trained outside of Canada.
Sam Wilkinson, of Brandon, Manitoba, has Down syndrome and difficulty hearing. His parents wanted a dog who could help him be more independent and safe while at school, and they found a black Labrador retriever called Hart who seemed to be just right for the job.
The only problem was the Brandon school division, which said the dog could not accompany the boy to class because he had been trained in the U.S.
The Wilkinson’s got legal help and filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
Donna Michaels, superintendent of the Brandon School Division, said the dog had to be assessed by the Office of the Fire Commissioner before it could be allowed in school.
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