Guidance on bringing pets (including dogs) to NA meetings and events – June 2024
This guidance has been prepared by the Administration Committee of the Australian Regional Service Committee (ARSC) for the benefit of all NA members (upon request of the ARSC). It is intended to be helpful advice. As with all things in NA, decisions should be made via a group conscience and under the guidance and direction of a loving Higher Power.
The question of whether NA members can bring pets (including dogs) to NA meetings and events is asked often, and the answer is that it depends.
Assistance Animals
Some companion animals are trained to provide assistance to people with a disability to help alleviate the effect of that disability. These assistance animals are not pets. They provide an important service that helps people to more fully participate in personal and public life activities with more confidence and independence.
There is some variation among states and territories regarding accreditation and regulation of assistance animals. Further information can be found at:
Assistance Dogs
Assistance Dogs Australia provides useful information about Assistance Dogs.
The rights of a person with an Assistance Dog are protected under Federal Law through the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA 1992). The DDA allows qualified Assistance Dogs to accompany their handler into all public spaces, with some limited exceptions such as clinical settings, food preparation and quarantined areas. Assistance Dogs are a necessary aid to allow a person with a disability to engage in their community.
Guidance from Assistance Dogs Australia is that you wouldn’t ask someone who needs a wheelchair or walking stick to leave it at the door. The same applies with an Assistance Dog.
Further information:
https://www.assistancedogs.org.au/about-us/public-access-rights/
Pets (including dogs)
Most if not all NA meetings and events are required to abide by a venue agreement which specifies what the hirer can and can’t do. In many cases there will be a clause similar to:
“No animals, except assistance animals, are permitted at the Venue or surrounding grounds”.
NA’s Vision talks about NA being a viable program of recovery. Whilst NA is not interested in outside opinions, the reputation it has in the community is important. Being productive members of society means working within community guidelines and rules. Ignoring venue agreements may put individual and collective recovery at risk and may affect other community groups using the same venue.
Even if no venue agreement exists, members should consider whether bringing a pet detracts from NA’s primary purpose. It could result in a member or potential member never returning to a meeting or event. Dogs in meetings can become a source of disunity within groups, service structures and the fellowship as a whole.
How about our Traditions?
The Traditions remind members that freedom for the group springs from the Traditions and that recovery is maintained through vigilance.
- First Tradition: Personal recovery depends on NA unity. Anything that causes disunity may impact personal recovery.
- Fourth Tradition: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or NA as a whole. A decision by one group to allow pets may create confusion or conflict at other meetings where pets are not allowed.
- Fifth Tradition: Each group has one primary purpose: to carry the message to the addict who still suffers. Bringing pets may detract from that purpose or prevent someone from hearing the message of recovery.
What if my pet bites someone?
There are specific laws in each state. As an example, the Companion Animals Act 1988 is the key legislation governing dog attacks in NSW. Under the Act, if a dog rushes at, attacks, bites, harasses or chases a person or animal, the owner or person in charge of the dog may be guilty of an offence if the incident occurs as a result of a reckless act or omission.
Maximum penalty:
200 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both.
The document notes that owners may still be liable even if the incident was not caused by reckless conduct, and higher penalties can apply to dangerous, menacing or restricted dogs.
How about our Insurance?
The ARSC’s insurance broker was asked:
- If an animal brought to a meeting damages the venue, is this covered by public liability insurance?
- If an animal injures a person or another animal at the venue, is this covered by public liability insurance?
- Does bringing non-service animals to meetings void the public liability policy?
Insurance Broker’s Response
- Allowing pets at meetings means assuming liability. The insurer strongly recommends implementing a pet policy requiring owners to sign conditions such as keeping animals on a lead, ensuring vaccinations are current, and accepting responsibility for injury or property damage caused by their animal.
- The insurer cannot provide a definitive answer on coverage because every claim is different. Although the liability policy does not specifically exclude animals, covering such incidents is not the intended purpose of the policy.
Questions or Comments?
Contact the ARSC Chair: