Dogs at work

[Smartieskid]

We don't allow dogs at work we have a huge sign on the wall outside but people still act surprised when I don't allow them or they ask if they can carry them then they always storm off claiming to spend there money else where happens atleast twice a day Really winds me up and no we never used to allow dogs either

For those who think it doesn't need saying, I'm glad you think it is obvious, but I suggest you look up Guide Dogs Access All Areas campaign. It will explain that half of guide dogs owners experience refusals, with cafes and restaurants being common locations.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/campaigns/access-all-areas#.V9B5CjR4XCQ

not at all Navy: if a café lets dogs in and its an accepted routine there, then any allergy sufferer or phobic will have voted with their feet and gone elsewhere: so its a great place to take your dog as you probably have a minimal risk of bothering anyone who has dog issues

but if the café has a no dogs policy, or like a clothes or food shop isn't somewhere where you would routinely expect a dog to be then to take your dog in is inappropriate and pretty presumptuous, and much more likely to impact on people who avoid dogs for whatever reason

Service dogs are an exception because the law that allows them is to protect the rights of the owner to be in the premises, not the dog; and people who do avoid dogs would have the ability and opportunity to move away/make space etc. and come to some compromise over their own comfort that accommodated the guide dog owners need to be there

We take our dog on holiday with us. We google in advance dog friendly pubs, cafes, restaurants and choose to eat there rather than leave him at the holiday cottage. He's small and snoozes under the table so most people would be unaware he was there anyway. We did find when we holidayed in Scotland that we were welcomed most places with a dog, in fact in a lovely cafe in Whigtown they even brought him a sausage in a dog bowl when we went in for breakfast.

Having said all that CandyMc, I have now realised if I drove a taxi for a living I would have to refuse to take guide dogs as it would be an issue for me in a confined space.....

Nor would I, Navy.

Problem is Didactylos, that by law, you can't refuse a guide dog. And you shouldn't either. No disabled person should be left stranded.

"So a cafe allows dogs, there are plenty of other dogs already in there but I shouldn't take mine in because there might be an allergy sufferer in there?"

An allergy sufferer would not go into a cafe where there were dogs, of course.

lovely Navy - so we are considerate of each other; I avoid known dog spaces and you avoid taking your dog into non dog spaces, and we both accept service dog users may have different rules

So what can we do about everyone else?

As pointed out by several previous posters, guide dogs and assistance dogs are not objected to because firstly they are not that common so any fur or dander they might leave would be far and few between. Secondly the ones I have seen are impeccably behaved, they don't growl at people or other dogs, don't bark, or display any other less desirable traits of dogs when in public. Lastly their owner depends on them for quality of life purposes whereas most people can manage without their dogs for a short time. I like dogs and have grown up with them but I think there's a time and a place for them, and I don't think you can really compare them with humans. Owning a dog is a choice not a right.

Did actual that would be illegal.

You can't expect someone who is allergic to dogs to safely drive you anywhere though surely?

Absolutely Soubriquet
but its one of those unsquarable circles isn't it: if by taking the dog in the car I am likely to have an allergic attack then although obeying equalities law, I knowingly put both myself and the guidedog using passenger at risk of accident (not to mention the dog and other road users too!) so there must be some leeway for that to be taken into account?

Oddly enough, since developing my allergy issues I have moved career into one that means I will have no risk of contact with animal dander, (including guidedogs) in my job: its a compromise I have had to make, in the same way I will avoid the dog friendly café

It's a tricky situation I will agree.

Pretty much no win. You refuse, you could get prosecuted.

You agree, you risk an attack.

Probably a good job you don't drive a taxi really isn't it

Would you be able to call for another taxi to do the job instead?

Might not always work umbongo

What if they have a hospital appoitment and in the time it takes for another taxi to arrive, they have missed their slot?

Actually guide dogs are accepted because they are mobility aid for their owner or other assistance in the case of other service dogs.
Not because they are well behaved and few.
Because the owner requires the assistance of the dog.

It might be interesting to note how many No Dogs sign you see compared to No Dogs except Assistance Dogs signs.

Many businesses (I'm not saying the op's place of work) think they can refuse all dogs including assistance dogs. Including taxi drivers. They can't. But imagine the impact on a person with a disability who relies on their assistance dog to be told no. On a regular basis.

A guide dog is the equivalent of a wheelchair. Would it be ok for a business or a taxi driver to say No Wheelchairs?

I haven't had a pop at any individual posters here.

But I have pointed out that as an owner of an assistance dog, it can be upsetting to read how vilifying people can be about dogs.

Not everyone knows, even if you personally do.

Allergy - a taxi driver with an allergy must have an exemption certificate which his photo on it and car details prominently displayed in his vehicle to legitimately refuse an assistance dog.
No other exemption is possible. No certificate, no refusal. Not being in a confined space with a dog is not a legitimate reason, as stated in law.

Totally a tangent but the Disney thread made me go Disney world fantasy shopping and I was looking at the disabled help page. You can take your service dog or miniature service horse! Wtf? Service horse???

I want a service miniature horse!!

I guess the only way I can theoretically do justice to the service dog owners request to be taken in my taxi would be to explain the potential issues
and arrange another taxi to attend them: sort of like the get out clause for health professionals who feel unable to provide abortion or contraception: they have to make sure the individual can access another person who can meet their needs. Which isn't convenient for anyone but most people would opt for inconvenienced over potentially dead? Would that satisfy the demands of the law?

I shall park up my metaphorical taxi as a thought exercise now! got to go do some non driving, non canine work....

Candy you are deliberately misreading posts, its been pointed out several times that guide dogs are there to help people and that they needed for that purpose, why are you trying to create an issue out of that? Nobody here has said they object to guide dogs at all. And I think you will find that many peoples with disabilities face discrimination when out and about, not just those with guide dogs.

Service horses are huge in America!

I've seen them on the tv. They are adorable.

service horses www.guidehorse.com/
cute but I am allergic to horses too now