Advocates for service animals in Nova Scotia say a new law that will protect the animals and their handlers is long overdue.

Justice Minister Lena Diab announced Friday she's working on the legislation. She's asking for public input until the end of July.

"We intend to focus in the next few months quite a bit on education of the public, so they understand the significance of it," she said. "Because really the use of a service dog by its user is like an extension, it's like your arm."

The law will start from the basics — it first has to define what a service dog is. Many types of therapeutic animals are currently used, assisting with a variety of disabilities from vision impairment to PTSD.

Diab says people who use the animals were the ones to ask for the law.

"They want people to understand that if they are using a service dog, they're using it because of a need, because of a medical condition."

Raising awareness

Charlie Macdonald has been paired with his guide dog Peaches since December. He's had a number of services dogs over the years, but he still encounters problems when he tries to enter some businesses.

"Most of the time it's people who don't know the law, and for whatever reason want to refuse access," he said. "It's less and less now, but you still run into it, yes."

He's hopeful the law will introduce provincial fines for those who refuse access.

Dog trainer Lisa Partridge is also excited that the province is acting on their concerns. She worked in Alberta, where legislation similar to what's being proposed has been in place for years.

She wants the law to define training standards in particular.

"If we have standards in place, that's going to protect both the business owners, the handlers and the public to make sure the dogs are safe to be out in public."

The hope is that after the consultation this summer, the new law could be introduced in the fall session.