Bosses of a nationwide pub chain defended refusing to serve a disabled woman who took her assistance dog into one of its pubs.
Kent Online reported that Louisa Nerssessian, who has hypermobility and uses a wheelchair, was about to eat with a friend in The Saxon Shore in Herne Bay when she was challenged over her shih tzu, Barli.
The website said a member of staff told them they would not be able to stay in the venue as the company’s policy is to only allow dogs trained by Assistance Dogs UK-accredited organisations. Staff also noted a sign in the pub window warning customers of this.
Ms Nerssessian responded by explaining that the Equality and Human Rights Commission says assistance dogs can be owner-trained and any breed.
She said: “I’ve trained him myself and, by the law, that’s legal. I don’t blame the guy for challenging me, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He was so focused on the fact that it was a policy, and he thought that his policy superseded the law.
“A lot of us do struggle with anxiety around having an assistance dog. We’re worried about people touching them, if we’re going to get told off or if we can’t go in places.”
Kent Online said Ms Nerssessian is awaiting an official diagnosis for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, with symptoms which include sudden increases in pulse rate and severe anxiety. She has trained Barli to help her manage the condition and said that without her dog she may not be able to leave her home.
Kent Online quoted the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as saying “it would be unlawful to refuse a service to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances”.
The news website said EHRC also notes assistance dogs can be owner-trained and any breed, as long as they will not wander freely, will sit or lie quietly near their owner.
Wetherspoon told the website it was important for employees to be able to “apply a consistent and easily understood policy”.
Eddie Gershon, spokesman for the pub chain, said: “Wetherspoon has a long-standing no-dogs policy in its pubs. Customers with trained guide dogs and assistance dogs with training by Assistance Dogs UK-accredited organisations will be allowed entry with their dogs.”
The Guide Dogs charity said it has received numerous reports of incidents where service providers, including Wetherspoon, are requesting proof from owners that their guide dog has been trained by an ADUK member organisation.
Kent Online said bosses at ADUK are in discussions with senior managers at the pub chain about the policy.