Murray Bridge High School in South Australia overturns ban of special needs student’s assistant dog

A boy with special needs who was left heartbroken after his beloved assistance dog was denied entry to his new classroom will finally be reunited with his animal after the school announced a major backflip.

Logan Reese, 12, from Murray Bridge in south-east of Adelaide, has just started year seven and has a number of conditions including epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy and an acquired brain injury.

He’s rarely without his assistance dog Hunter, who has been his constant companion for the last six years.

The Labrador not only helps Logan build his independence and reduces his anxiety but is also trained to help keep him safe and help him whenever he has an epileptic seizure.

Logan’s mum Murrianna said she was recently told by Murray Bridge High School that Hunter couldn’t accompany her son in the classroom due to concerns about allergies and cultural needs of other students.

She was also told the school needed to get funding to pay for Hunter’s handler.

A furious Ms Reese fought the ban which was overturned just hours after the story sparked national attention.

‘Hunter is really important to Logan as his support companion to help build his self esteem,’ Ms Reese told Daily Mail Australia.

‘If Logan has a seizure or start choking, he barks to let adults know that Logan needs urgent help.

‘He also provides comfort and calms Logan in stressful and overwhelming situations and helps stabilise his ability.’

‘In Logan’s words, ‘Hunter is my best friend.’

The school reversed its decision on Wednesday following a meeting with Ms Reese and representatives from the South Australian education department.

She looked at enrolling her son at a private school and considered home-schooling before his current school, which has 1,200 students, reversed its decision.

‘Logan broke down in tears on Tuesday night as it was getting too hard for him,’ Ms Reese said.

‘He’s now excited about going back.’ 

She plans to return to Logan’s school on Thursday to help the dog acclimatise to the new environment. 

Hunter has accompanied Logan inside numerous venues including shopping centres, cinemas, therapists’ appointments, hospitals and Adelaide airport. 

His mother referred to the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 legislation, which states a person who is wholly or partially blind or deaf, or otherwise disabled, is entitled to be accompanied by an accredited assistance dog in a public place.

‘The school’s response didn’t surprise me as I’ve tried to get him and Hunter into other schools in the past with similar responses,’ Ms Reese said.

‘But I didn’t think it would be an issue as Logan was at his last primary school for three years, which had no issues with Hunter.’

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‘He actually became a great teaching and learning tool for the other students.’

Ms Reese earlier told Sunrise: ‘The primary school principal has been helping us try to get Hunter over there, talking with them, so she doesn’t see a problem with Hunter being there.’

Ms Reese hopes sharing their ordeal to bring change for all families with special needs children who face similar hurdles with schools.

‘We’re willing to work with government departments if they stop putting road blocks in the way, she said.

“It would be great if we didn’t have to fight so hard to get what our kids need.’ 

An education department spokesperson said they were pleased a positive outcome had been reached and had started recruiting for a dog handler to look after Hunter while Logan is learning.

‘The school has been supporting Logan with a 1:1 student support officer and are pleased with how he has settled into high school,’ a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

‘The dog will now start an orientation after school hours to familiarise him with the school site and dog training will also be provided to other staff as well.

‘These instances can be complex, particularly at a school with 1200 students, so it does take time to ensure other students’ needs, for example allergies, are also met.

‘We’re really pleased to have worked with the family to identify a positive outcome for Logan and look forward to his continual success at Murray Bridge High School.’

Daily Mail Australia also contacted the school for comment.

It’s not the first time Logan’s assistance dog has been denied entry.

In 2019, the Reese family booked a holiday at a holiday park in Adelaide – a place they had stayed at three times before.

Upon arrival with the assistance dog, the family were denied entry and forced to cancel their holiday due to the facility’s ‘no pets’ policy.

The venue at the time claimed the dog’s accreditation provided was expired and deemed not valid by staff.