AADSA Launches #BetterTogether Campaign to Promote Excellence in Assistance Dogs Across Southern Africa
20 July 2026
The Assistance Dogs Association South Africa (AADSA) is proud to launch its #BetterTogether campaign in celebration of International Assistance Dog Week (2–8 August 2026), shining a spotlight on the extraordinary partnerships between assistance dogs and the people whose lives they transform every day.
As the leading association representing assistance dog organisations across Southern Africa, AADSA is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of training, animal welfare, ethics, public access, and professional practice. The campaign celebrates the life-changing impact of professionally trained assistance dogs while encouraging businesses, service providers, government institutions, and the public to support and welcome legitimate assistance dog teams.
“An assistance dog is far more than a companion—they are a highly trained partner that provides independence, confidence, safety, and dignity,” says AADSA. “Every successful partnership represents thousands of hours of expert training, careful matching, ongoing support, and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of both the handler and the dog.”
Across Southern Africa, assistance dogs empower individuals living with visual, hearing, mobility, medical, psychiatric, and developmental disabilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives. These remarkable partnerships reduce barriers, increase confidence, improve mental wellbeing, and enable greater participation in education, employment, travel, and community life.
However, AADSA warns that the increasing misuse of fake assistance dogs and unregulated training practices threatens public trust and creates unnecessary challenges for legitimate assistance dog handlers.
“When poorly trained or falsely represented assistance dogs enter public spaces, everyone loses,” AADSA explains. “Businesses become uncertain, legitimate handlers face increased discrimination, and the reputation of professionally trained assistance dogs is undermined. Protecting recognised standards protects the rights of people with disabilities.”
AADSA works alongside its member organisations to uphold internationally recognised best practices in assistance dog training, welfare, ethical breeding, handler education, and lifelong support. These standards ensure that certified assistance dog teams are safe, reliable, and capable of working confidently in public while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare.
The #BetterTogether campaign calls on businesses, transport providers, healthcare facilities, schools, hospitality venues, employers, and government departments to recognise the rights of legitimate assistance dog teams and to help build communities where accessibility and inclusion are everyday realities.
Throughout International Assistance Dog Week, AADSA and its members will share inspiring stories of independence, resilience, and partnership while raising awareness about the importance of responsible assistance dog programmes and public acceptance.
“Every time a restaurant welcomes an assistance dog team, a taxi driver opens their door, or a business understands its responsibilities, another barrier disappears,” says AADSA. “Together we can create a Southern Africa where every person partnered with a legitimate assistance dog enjoys equal access, equal opportunity, and the freedom to live independently.”
AADSA invites the public to join the conversation by following and sharing #BetterTogether throughout International Assistance Dog Week and helping celebrate the remarkable partnerships that are changing lives every day.
About AADSA
The Assistance Dogs Association South Africa (AADSA) is the leading professional association for assistance dog organisations in Southern Africa. AADSA promotes excellence through recognised standards, ethical practices, education, advocacy, and collaboration while supporting organisations that train assistance dogs for people living with disabilities. Together, AADSA members are working to create a more accessible, inclusive, and compassionate Southern Africa where legitimate assistance dog teams are recognised, respected, and welcomed everywhere.
