Do you think there will ever come a time when business need to take account of the needs of those of us allergic to dogs?

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OK, so I don't want this to turn into one of the many threads where huge rows erupt about the number of dogs around. I accept that this seems to be the way of the world - for now anyway - but some recent experiences have made me question the implications.

I'm in the process of booking a UK touring holiday and have spent the last few weeks trying to book some medium range hotels in various places. Mainly countryside locations which might be part of the issue.

I am allergic to dogs and prone to fairly serious reactions, including asthma attacks if exposed for a prolonged period.

The problem is that I'm coming across so many places I like only to read that they are pet friendly. This is often accompanied by photos showing dogs running around the hotel interior, sitting on the beds and couches in rooms etc. If I were to stay in this room after a dog had been there it's highly likely I'd be quite poorly. When I've rung these hotels to ask if they have any designated pet free rooms, they have replied that no, they are 'pet friendly', as if this somehow makes them morally superior and those of us who have allergies are some sort of animal hater!

Given the legislation on dietary labelling that came in following some tragic incidents, I do wonder if we're going to end up in a situation where someone is likely to come to harm through inadvertent exposure. This is probably more likely to be a child as grown adults will be able to spot early warning signs.

I'm just interested in views on this as it's increasingly feeling like I'm being denied access to a service in a way that would not be acceptable in other situations.

Following as both my DH and eldest son are severely allergic to dogs and it causes an asthma attack etc. We find it really hard to filter easily where we can go, both for Hotels but also for Airbnbs etc! I am not sure why it isn't an option.

I don’t think anyone is asking to ban guide dogs.

The issue is pet dogs and “emotional assistance support animals” be it a ferret or a dog.

If a place only allows guide dogs you’re going to see far less occurrences of dogs being in there. Nobody used to complain about the presence of guide dogs when they were the only type of dogs you would find in places like hotel.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a guide dog in a shop or cafe etc , whereas I see pet dogs everywhere.

Re. informing people they are pet friendly I wish all business would post some sort of agreed symbol on their website and their physical premises to signal whether a place is Pet friendly or not. Every business should be required to display this if they are dog friendly.

I was about to book a table at a restaurant when I read on trip advisor a review saying they were disgusted by the customers and staff who allowed their dog to walk on the tables.

I wouldn’t even have known that restaurant was pet friendly. I’ve taken to calling places up to check but that can be tedious. Wish they’d all just make it clear.

And this @OP is why you can't have a reasonable discussion about this.

How could they say they were 100% dog free without having a policy that discriminates against people who need guide dogs/other service dogs? “Only service dogs allowed” isn’t going to be good enough if you have an allergy.

Unless being allergic to animals is seen as a disability, you won’t have the ability to turn away guide dogs.

I’ve literally made various reasonable points - and so have others - so why can’t you discuss reasonably? Do tell.

We have been on a few fantastic ‘touring’* holidays on the Isle of Man. My partner observed a few times that we rarely saw dogs except for (a) working dogs; and (b) exceptionally well-trained dogs being walked on permitted beaches and plantations. The Manx take their biosphere very seriously.

Anyway, all the places we stayed in, including hotels like the Sefton, were dog free. We also never saw any dogs in restaurants tbh. We weren’t jumped up on by a single dog anywhere, not even when we saw a few excited dogs being exercised at the Point of Ayre. They all had excellent recall. (There are seals up there so owners need to be responsible.)

We have only ever seen dog fouling once on the Isle of Man and it really stood out as an anomaly.

So that might be worth looking at as a destination. Allergies are no fun. Some wonderful Manx sea air won’t hurt, either.

*Driving, walking, using the heritage transport, boat trips … loads to do.

That’s what we do too. Call the establishment to check.
We already avoid parks and beaches as there’s too many off lead dogs there. Shops and restaurants are now being too pet friendly.

I do wonder where the line is though. Is it going to take an incident with an XL bully that changes things.

Owning a pet isn't a protected characteristic so it is perfectly legal to discriminate against dog owners. A disability is a protected characteristic, a severe allergy can constitute a disability for the purposes of the equality act. It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the grounds of disability.

You can’t have nuts on planes if there’s someone with an allergy but dogs are still allowed - seems some allergies are more considered than others

People sit behind them? Thats as close.

We won’t get any sleep though, which is the point of the hotel room. Some of us with allergies will either be sitting on the windowsill hanging our heads out of the window trying to get some air (had to do that twice!) or just getting up and going outside.

Lesson learned, I’m careful where I book now.

I don't think people get it. They don’t understand the impact on people who are allergic. It’s very easy to live my life away from pets, but this hotel room lark thing is very new and irritating.

I agree. Even allowed in shops like John Lewis now and FOOD supermarkets! I think it's revolting. I have even seen people put their dogs in the food trolleys. So the next person to have that trolley will be putting their food where the dog's arse has been sitting.

Same, I avoid my local park and yet I’ve had two dogs in my apartment building run up and jump at me so it’s almost like no escape from them .

Yes I wonder as well- especially in regards to dogs on trains as it’s such a confined space and you can’t leave as easily as you can leave a cafe. So good luck if a dog like a bully or any dog really turns nasty on an unsuspecting passenger.

Allergic folk could start their own Hotel / holiday corporation?

Maybe go on a cruise… would there be fewer canines on a ship?

Yeah it must suck. I used to have horrible dog allergy and nearly all my friends and family had dogs. It was impossible to sleep in their houses as I was so itchy and allergic.

I love dogs, but not in cafes and restaurants.
I was having breakfast in a hotel restaurant one morning, and the people at the next table had a dog who was sitting between our tables. Until he stood up and did a huge steaming poo right next to me 🤮

The owners didn't even apologise, and the restaurant staff didn't seem fussed either.

But they are no less likely to cause an allergy

I just go abroad. There’s no fussing around over muts in most of the areas of Europe I go to.

Honestly for my whole life this hasn’t been a problem in the UK. Until now.

True, but there are fewer of them so not as likely there will have been one there recently

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelsList-United_Kingdom-Hotels-With-Allergy_free-Rooms-zfp18549224.html

your allergy can be classed as a disability if it’s serious.

Allowing pets in hotels is generally not considered illegal discrimination against people with allergies, as allergies typically do not meet the legal definition of a disability requiring accommodation

Key details regarding allergies as a disability:

• To qualify, the impairment (allergy) must have a substantial and long-term impact on daily life, such as restricting food choices and/ or requiring constant medication.

Classification as a disability
Under the Equality Act 2010, an allergy may be considered a disability if it is severe, long-term, and has a "substantial adverse effect" on an individual's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities or work (e.g., severe asthma triggered by dander).

I'm only very slightly allergic to dogs but I'm ADHD and have sensory gating issues that are getting much worse as I get older. It's a physical pain to me that makes me flinch every time a dog gives a sharp bark. It's very like hearing a gunshot or a car backfire close by, over and over again while I'm trying to relax over a coffee or a meal.

It's getting harder and harder to find eating places without them and far too many owners don't control the noise their dogs are making.

Not france! Every chic cafe has little dogs in. Many shops in small towns (including bakeries and butchers) allow dogs in. They are just walking round the supermarkets.

Less “big, working breed” dogs about, but very small fluffy dog friendly. (And less likely to pick up poo than in the UK.)

Hence my use of "can constitute" rather than "is"

But why is it ‘vile?’ Obviously there are wide variations in owner (and dog!) behavior, but what exactly about the presence of a dog in a restaurant poses a risk to make it ‘vile?’
Ive seen many things in restaurants that I’d consider vile, but a dog sitting under the next table isn’t one of them.