New joint digital ID card tackles growing challenges for guide and assistance dog users worldwide.
September 8 2025 — The two leading organizations representing assistance dog and guide dog teams worldwide have agreed to adopt a common digital ID card to provide modern technology, improve identification, and combat fraud for the graduates, staff and volunteers of their member organizations.
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) - which between them represent more than 250 member organizations across five continents - say wider use of a common digital ID card will help assistance and guide dog users have a more comfortable and stress-free experience in public spaces and on public transport.
Developed by US-based company ID123 Inc., digital ID cards were introduced by ADI in 2021 and are already in use by more than 11,000 assistance dog teams worldwide. They can be stored on any mobile device, and include both photo ID and contact details of the handler as well as their accredited training organization.
The updated version — to be adopted by both organizations from September 2025 — has enhanced security features such as screen shot blocking, hologram and rotating QR code designed to help reduce the increasing number of fake assistance and guide dogs. Users’ data is stored in multiple high security regional data centers.
“ADI is very excited about the launch of the joint digital ID card, which will enable even more assistance dog and guide dog users to benefit from modern technology and enjoy greater access,” said ADI Executive Director Chris Diefenthaler. “This next generation digital ID card uses advanced security features to help handlers and their assistance dogs access public spaces and transport, improve identification and combat the growing problem of fraudulent assistance dogs.”
The launch of the ADI-IGDF joint Digital ID Card comes as part of a wider collaboration to improve access and acceptance, especially on public transport and airlines. The recently-published Paws For Access joint report found that a quarter of assistance dog handlers and nearly half of guide dog handlers sometimes avoid going out in public because of the hostility they encounter.
“We are delighted to collaborate with ADI in making the digital ID card available to our members,” said IGDF Executive Director David Maynard. “Paws for Access revealed the scale of the problem faced by our handlers and their assistance dogs when trying to access everyday services, and the impact that this has on their lives, confidence and independence. I believe the digital ID card will help reduce the number of access refusals - sadly this problem has been exacerbated by the increasing number of individuals attempting to pass off poorly trained pet dogs as genuine guide or assistance dogs.”
The digital ID card uses a secure and simple smartphone app to help service providers easily verify that a guide or assistance dog team has been trained by one of their accredited member organizations. “We have been a proud partner of ADI for the past six years, working together to reduce fraudulent assistance dog claims and improve access for accredited assistance dog teams worldwide,” said ID123’s Partner Manager Andrew Reed. “We are now excited to welcome IGDF in joining ADI and ID123, and to support them as they roll out secure digital ID cards to their accredited members and affiliates.”
“It is really important that IGDF and ADI continue to work together to address the challenges faced by our handlers,” added Maynard. “I hope that IGDF’s participation will encourage more member organizations to make digital ID cards available to their clients, and that we can all continue to work together to reduce the number of access refusals.”
ID123’s Digital ID Card Solution provides accredited guide and assistance dog teams with a secure, mobile version of their traditional physical ID cards, accessible 24/7 direct from their mobile devices. “The digital cards are fully compatible with native accessibility features on mobile devices and leverage advanced security measures including screenshot prevention, animated card displays and encrypted data storage, ensuring both convenience and protection for members,” explained Reed.
“Paws for Access highlighted the rise in untrained, and poorly-behaved fake service dogs,” added Diefenthaler. “This in turn leads to skepticism and even hostility towards genuine assistance and guide dogs, and we’re seeing more and more demands for handlersto verify their dog as a bona fide assistance dog. I believe the new joint Digital ID card will go a long way towards overcoming these challenges.”
ENDS
About Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
ADI is the world’s leading standards-setter and accreditation body for training assistance dogs. As a worldwide coalition of nearly 200 non-profit member organizations spread across five continents, ADI is the world’s most diverse and inclusive assistance dog certification and standard-setting body. For more information visit https://assistancedogsinternational.org
About the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
IGDF is the charity that defines and maintains international standards for the training of guide dogs around the world. This work ensures the quality and safety of guide dog services for people who are blind or have low vision. As well as developing international standards, IGDF supports new guide dog organizations around the world, helping them to grow and progress towards full accreditation against the IGDF standards. For more information visit https://www.igdf.org.uk/
About ID123
ID123 Inc. is a digital identity solutions company founded in 2017 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Our solution includes a web-based ID Management System (IDMS) and a mobile ID app. Our mission is “To change the world by making digital identity accessible to everyone with a mobile device and enabling institutions around the world to issue and manage digital credentials remotely.” More information can be found at https://www.id123.io/