Tesco hit the headlines last month when staff asked a blined woman with a guide dog
to leave the shop . Maya Makri said she was shouted a by three cashiers,who told her
" no pet allowed " and to leave the shop .
Small business can avoid similar situations by ensuring their staff know how to identify
guide dogs and assistance dog users by the Equality Act 2010.
Guide Dogs UK have recieved nearly 500 complaints about access problems in the last
year - and that's just from the people who took the effort to complain . As president of the
European Guide Dog Federation I am in touch with guide dog users and trainers all over
Europe and I see a wide range of different practices . Plus, as a guide dog user since
2010 - I suffer from a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa - I experience reactions of small
business first hand.
What to do when a guide dog enters your business
If a dog comes inton youre business premises,welcome the owner but don't fuss the dog
- they can get a little bit excited if they are fussed. If the dog rushes towards a welcoming
proprietor, and there is a step between you and the guide dog owner, the results can be
catastrophic. Let the dog lead the owner . Don't say " there are two steps coming up" when
the steps are leading down. The dog will tell its owner if there are steps .
Examples of guide dog friendly small business
If you run a restaurant or cafe , don't feed the dog - they are kept on a very strict diet and
feeding the dog can distract it from its duty . The dog is trained to curl up at its owner feet
and stay well out of offer a drink , as a working dog can get quite thirsty on a busy morning's
shopping trip . I found Prague the most dog-friendly city in Europe : every time I went into a
restaurant they asked me if my dog Zoey ,would like a drink .
I was once in a cafe in Anglesey after an energetic morning with Zoey, running up and down
the beach. She obviously ate something unpalatable because in the cafe an hour or so later
she coughed up seaweed.The owner put us at our ease by arriving with a big pack of tissues.
Be aware of how to identify a guide dog
No business owner would dream of saying " you can't bring your child in " It should be the
same with trained dogs. As well as the nearly 4,900 guide dogs in the UK , there are an increasing
number of assistance dogs that help other disable people.There are dogs that help people in
wheechairs and with other medical conditions and dogs fo deaf people .
All these dogs are trained to a certified standard and can be recognised by their distinctive jacket ,
quite apart from their good behaviour.Assistance Dogs UK has developed an identity card which
is being issued this year.So if in doubt ,the proprietor can ask for positive identification.
In my experience,most customers are affectionate towards guide dogs and their presence adds
a warm glow wherever they are. In short , assistance dogs and guide dogs are good for business.
David Adams is the president of the European Guide Dog Federation.
