Law Allows Seeing-Eye ‘Trainees’ Access to Anywhere

The Knesset Welfare Committee approved for its second and third reading a bill that would allow blind people to bring their seeing-eye dogs into any venue or building, even when they are puppies. Currently, businesses and institutions have the right to keep the animals in training off their premises.

The law was approved for legislation as the Knesset commemorated a special day dedicated to assisting the blind. According to MK Ilan Galeon (Meretz), co-sponsor of the bill, “the authorization for the final legislation of this bill is a historic day.”

While blind people can bring their fully-grown seeing-eye dogs anywhere, the same is not true for the animals when they are not yet fully grown, said MK Miki Rosenthal, who is co-sponsoring the legislation. “Seeing-eye dogs need to be taken around by trainers in order to ensure that they are familiar with venues and learn to get used to the situation there. With this bill, trainers will have that opportunity,” he added.