Local disability advocate Ellen Garvey has launched a campaign to secure legal recognition for emotional support dogs in Ireland.

The goal is to grant these essential companions access to public spaces, transport, and housing, ensuring people with disabilities can live independently.

The campaign is supported by Aontú General Election candidate Michael O’Dowd, who backs this initiative on the grounds of reasonable accommodation, emphasizing that individuals with disabilities deserve full rights and support.

Ellen’s own dog, Teresa, plays a crucial role in her daily life, helping her navigate public spaces and providing stability. However, without legal protections, Ellen and others like her face barriers to accessing public transport, shops, and housing. She supports a requirement for training and certification for emotional support dogs, ensuring responsible integration into public spaces.

“Recognizing emotional support dogs is a matter of fairness and inclusivity” Michael O’Dowd said. “People like Ellen should not face obstacles in their daily lives due to a lack of legal recognition for their essential companions. I fully support this campaign and urge policymakers to consider the necessary changes.”

An online petition calls on lawmakers to recognize emotional support animals in public spaces, transport, and housing has been launched to build public support for this change and is available HERE