On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, online vendors were reported to be selling assistance‑animal harnesses without the verification required by Quebec law, allowing ordinary pets to be presented as service animals. The unverified products are being marketed on the internet, sidestepping the legal step that confirms a harness is intended for a qualified assistance animal.
Quebec legislation mandates that any harness used to identify an assistance animal must be verified through an official process. The verification is meant to ensure that only animals trained and certified to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities receive the legal protections and accommodations afforded to service animals. By omitting this step, the online sellers are offering a product that does not meet the statutory criteria.
The issue came to public attention after a pony appeared at the Montreal courthouse wearing one of the unverified harnesses. The presence of the pony, a non‑traditional assistance animal, highlighted how the unchecked sale of these items can lead to confusing and potentially disruptive situations in public institutions that rely on the verification system to manage legitimate service‑animal requests.
Authorities and consumer‑protection groups have noted that the practice undermines the intent of the law and could lead to increased scrutiny of legitimate assistance‑animal claims. The lack of verification may prompt investigations into the sellers’ compliance with provincial regulations and could result in enforcement actions to restore the integrity of the verification process.