Individuals with disabilities face various types of social stigma. Research suggests that the presence of an assistance dog leads to an increase in social interactions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether people’s attitudes toward individuals with disabilities differ when pairing that person with an assistance dog. Undergraduate students (N= 244) were randomly assigned to view an individual with a disability either alone or with an assistance dog. Participants rated their attitudes toward the individual, completed a newly developed Implicit Association Test, and answered behavioral intention questions. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that individuals with more positives attitudes toward dogs had significantly more positive social attitudes toward the individual with a disability paired with a dog, after accounting for gender and dog ownership history. Additionally, individuals had an implicit bias toward an individual with a disability paired with an assistance dog over the individual alone.

This master thesis focuses on comparison of methodical, economical and legislative aspects of the issue of assistance dogs in the Czech Republic and Austria. The work consists of a theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part focuses on assistance dogs, their classification and use. Further, breeds suitable to be used as assistance dogs are presented as well as the methods of their training. Organizations specializing in this kind of training in the Czech Republic and in Austria are listed. The practical part presents the individual organizations, including their detailed description and semi-structured interviews with their members. Based on these interviews organized into data tables, the individual questions are presented and discussed separately to facilitate orientation in the topic. Further, owing to the material provided by the responding subjects, this part brings complex views of the individual organizations. The results of the research have revealed that the legislative aspects of the issue of assistance dogs do not substantially differ in the two countries but Austria has an extra asset in the mentality of its people. The financial aspects of this issue are more promising in Austria than in the Czech Republic. Further, the research has shown that the methods of training are similar in Austria and the Czech Republic and that in both countries the training is based on positive methods.

A lot of handicapped people need help while meeting their everyday needs provided by another person. Not only their family members, any close people, specialists and non-profit organisations can provide them with needful help but also an assistance dog that can become a companion and a friend as well. Those for disabled people specially trained dogs may be helpful with such a handicapped person to cope better with his/her daily life. At present, there are four organisations in the Czech Republic which are engaged in the training of assistance dogs. Generally those organisations are non-government and no-profit institutions. It is this Work{\crq}s objective to show and present the conditions regarding social consultancy for handicapped people in relation to the assistance dogs and to make out a project design for a Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs whereas the design would appropriately complete the already existing net of training centres of assistance dogs and social services for disabled people. A research was performed which served as a basis to draw up the project design of Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs and it resulted from that the handicapped people who possess an assistance dog had all available information how to procure a dog and how to finance the dog{\crq}s training; they were provided with advice and they are satisfied with the present training centres services. The disabled people who don{\crq}t possess an assistance dog are short of information about such a possibility and they don{\crq}t actually know who to address to in case if they are interested in an assistance dog. Further, it resulted from the research that more than a half of the enquired organisations, which provide social services, don{\crq}t supply their clients with any information about the assistance dogs and related topics. Based on those results I worked out a proposal of the Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs which could enhance the existing net of services in relation to the assistance dogs. This Centre will deal with special social consultancy, training of assistance dogs and an enlightening activity. The research results also demonstrate that it is necessary in terms of such a Centre to co-operate with organisations which provide social services to handicapped people and to do the enlightening activity with general public.

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This diploma thesis deals with the legal regulation of breeding and keeping dogs, which is incorporated into the context of animal welfare and the relevant legal regulations. The thesis consists of three parts, each of which is dedicated to a specific thematic area. The first part deals with the legal status of dogs and their protection. It is divided into six chapters. The first chapter introduces the issue of granting legal subjectivity to animals. This forms the basis for understanding the further development of legislation on the status and protection of animals. Other chapters of this section introduce the reader to the relevant international, European and national legislation. Emphasis is placed on the status of the animal - the dog and onto provisions related, in particular, to civil law and criminal law. The second and third part represents the core part of the diploma thesis. The second part is devoted to dog breeding and related activities. It is divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with the field of dog breeding, together with the analysis of the current issues of puppy mills. The second chapter focuses on the area of dog transportation. It provides an analysis of the general conditions of animal transportation and further focuses on the domestic transportation of dogs by...