Winnipeg named as best place to live for veterans with service dogs

A new study suggests Winnipeg is the best place to live if you’re a veteran with a service dog.

Courageous Companions, an organization that pairs veterans and military personnel with dogs trained for therapeutic treatment of conditions like PTSD and bi-polar disorder, released a national survey measuring issues faced by people with service dogs. The problems documented during the study ranged from refusal of service to lack of accessibility.

The study named Winnipeg as the city with the smallest number of issues arising for those with service dogs, while Calgary was named as the place with the most issues.

The Courageous Companions study results:

Best City to live with a Service Dog (rate of issues arising)

1. Winnipeg 5%

2. Toronto 30%

3. Vancouver 32%

4. Montreal 33%

5. Quebec 34%

Worst City to live with a Service Dog (rate of issues arising)

1. Calgary 90%

2. Ottawa 80%

3. Saskatoon 60%

4. Brandon 59%

5. Moncton 58%

The study also found veterans with service dogs were met with challenges most often when dealing with airlines, taxis, restaurants, and hotels. Airlines proved to be the most difficult, with an 85 per cent rate of issues arising.

The study compiled data from more than 300 service dog owners across Canada and was conducted over 18 months.

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  Courageous Companions pairs veterans and military personnel with dogs trained for therapeutic treatment of conditions like PTSD, autism, bi-polar disorder, and seizure detection and assistance. (file image)