Bus operator Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire is launching a new scheme which will allow members from a UK assistant dog training centre and their four-legged friends free travel on Stagecoach buses in the New Year.

Free travel will be available for UK dog trainers Canine Partners, an organisation which trains assistant dogs on Stagecoach services across Merseyside and South Lancashire from Thursday, January 1, 2015.

Elisabeth Tasker, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said:

“This scheme is a fantastic opportunity for the company to show our support and add to the work we already do in helping transport our assistant dog community.

“Going on public transport is essential for the training and development of these assistant dogs when out with their person and we’re very pleased to be working with Canine Partners to establish this scheme and improve accessibility for even more of our passengers across the regions we cover. We hope this will allow more assistant dogs and their owners to feel safe and secure on Stagecoach buses and enjoy their journeys with us!”

The new system will operate alongside the existing “Puppy Walkers” scheme, which currently entitles trainee guide pups and their trainers to travel for free on most Stagecoach bus services in the UK.

The initiative will play a key role in the assistant dogs’ training and will help them get used to travelling on public transport. In order to take advantage of the scheme, passengers will need to show the bus driver their Canine Partner identification card and have their trainee dog with them.

The scheme is a part of a Stagecoach UK wide initiative which allows free travel for Canine Partners assistant dogs and their trainers on all services excluding those operated in London or under the megabus.com, megabusplus.com or Scottish Citylink brands.

For more information please visit: www.caninepartners.org.uk