Service Animal Information

Manitoba does have a law which protects service animals while they are working. 

This law defines a service animal as an animal which is "trained to be used by a person with a disability for reasons relating to his or her disability". 

This law outlines the following protections for service animals and their handlers: 

• No person shall touch, feed, impede or interfere with a service animal.
• No person who owns an animal or has possession or control of an animal shall allow that animal to touch, impede or interfere with a service animal.
• Discrimination with respect to any service, accommodation, facility, benefit or program available or accessible to the public or to a section of the public is prohibited.
• Service providers also have a duty to reasonably accommodate the special needs of a person based on their disability, or any other protected characteristic.
• A person who uses a service animal has the right to access any area that is generally accessible to the public.
• A person should not be penalized or isolated, for using a service animal.

The law also outlines the responsibilities of handlers when bringing their service animal into public spaces: 

• A service animal must be under the care and control of its owner at all times.
• If the person with the service animal is not able to effectively control the animal’s behavior, which would include displaying disruptive behaviours such as barking, snapping, defecating or whining excessively, they may be refused access or asked to leave.