Family speaks out after service dog taken away from non-verbal child with autism

Sasha Singh says the day her family got a service dog for her daughter was life changing.

"I can tell you for a fact that the best therapist comes with fur and four legs," she said.

Singh says Sammy, a Bernese mountain dog, was a big help to Catiana, 14, who is non-verbal and has autism.

"It gave us a normal life; we were able to do things as a family."

But in March, Singh says Catiana's life was turned upside down when National Service Dogs (NSD) took Sammy away without any notice after four years with the family.

Getting a service dog in Ontario requires a doctors note. Waiting lists can be years long and training the animals costs thousands of dollars. The family says they waited four years to get Sammy. But NSD, an organization based in Cambridge, Ont. that trains the animals for children diagnosed with autism, says the dog was obese and wasn't in good enough health to continue working — something the family disputes.

Before Sammy was taken away, he passed his public access test, which demonstrates a dog is able to perform its duties as a service animal, "with flying colours," the family says.

But Singh says they got a letter after the test saying Sammy was certified on a provisional basis, and when they asked why, NSD said it was because the dog was overweight.

"We explained to them over the last two years prior his work life suffered because of COVID. We couldn't take the children out and he gained a bit of weight," she said.

After exchanging emails, the family says the organization wanted to do a home visit to discuss a diet and exercise plan for the dog, but instead, he was taken away. Catiana's father, Ricardo Portillo, says they were caught completely off guard.

"The day before, I spoke to them and they promised us the dog was not going to be taken away, that they were going to work on a plan to get him back on track," he said.

"When they got here, two minutes into the conversation, they said we're taking him away."

He says NSD left a piece of paper with mental health resources, while his two daughters, who both have autism, were left "crying their hearts out."

The family showed CBC News a note from a Mississauga vet referring to a visit they say took place just a few days before Sammy was taken away. The note stated he was "healthy and happy."