Treatment of Assistance Dogs
Since 1958 it has been BVA poliy to recommend that all members give a twice yearly examination, free of charge, to guide dogs belonging to blind people.
N.B. Only the clinical examination is free. Members may charge for any treatment, medicines, operative procedures etc by sending the bills to the guide dog owners who can, if unable to meet the cost, forward the accounts to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
In 1982 it was agreed to recommend to members that the same arrangements as for Guide Dogs for the Blind be applied to hearing dogs for the deaf under the scheme announced that year by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
In 1987, following consultation with the BSAVA, it was greed that the policy should apply to all four 'official' assistance dogs, guide, hearing, disabled and support.
December 1997