Sask. veteran says service dog banned from church for alerting others of his distress
CTV
Dan Baker has filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after he said his service dog was turned away from a Regina church for barking in an attempt to alert others of Baker's distress.
A Saskatchewan veteran has filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after claiming his service dog was turned away at a Regina church sanctuary.
Dan Baker was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety after spending more than a decade in the military.
He and his wife found their dog Loki at a rescue shelter and trained him as a service dog. He completed his training in February 2022.
“If [Loki] senses I am anxious, he tries to block me or get me out of [a situation],” Baker explained. “Or he’ll put his head on my lap.”
After Baker suffered a heart attack last year, Loki was also trained to notify others should Baker fall.
“Usually for him, it’s to lick my face to check if I am okay,” Baker said.
Baker and his wife have attended ROC Church International in Regina for around five years.
