To think this is a serious error and the resolution doesn’t really cut it

[Myinterestingnewpath]

Visited a well known chain restaurant, early in the week so it wasn’t busy, only about six tables tables taken. I was with my daughter, asked if I could have a table instead of a booth, as I have an assistance dog. My dog is a small/medium size, and was wearing his harness. I got asked if he was a guide dog, I said no an assistance dog. He then asked what that meant. I explained that the dog helps me with tasks that help me live my daily life. He then asked what exactly that meant. So I explained I have neurological damage after breaking my neck, and I can’t feel my fingers so drop things and the dog retrieves them. I also explained I have balance issues, so bending down without falling over is a problem. I then got asked if it was a guide dog again. I said no. He then said you can’t come in because it’s not a guide dog and you’re not blind!! I am not a confrontational person so I just said ok, we’ll just go the restaurant next door, (which is owned by the same group) as they always welcome me. The next day I rang head office and they admitted that what he did is unlawful, and they would do some staff training. Turning away a disabled person because of their equipment is a serious issue. Dogs are classed as auxiliary aids same as wheelchairs. I have been offered £20, I think they’ve got off lightly. What do mumsnetters think?

YABU-restaurants can choose who dines
YANBU-it’s discrimination

Was your dog wearing an assistance jacket or other indication he's an assistance dog OP? If not, you can understand why the restaurant might not have realised...

Nonsense. There is one charity that registers dogs, the ADUK, and her dog is not registered with them. It’s a lie.

No, you are wrong. There is no national register for "Assistance Dogs". ADUK is one of VARIOUS organisations with which an owner may "register" their dog, rather than being THE recognised register.

Assistance dogs can be owner trained and there is no requirement for them to be registered or carry ID.
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf

No probs👍

@niugboo you’re completely contradicting yourself! And being totally nasty. What’s your problem exactly (apart from lacking any sort of reading comprehension)?

But this is a discussion forum, no, where things are DISCUSSED? We are not at work now and I wouldn't start asking these questions at my workplace because I'm not a dick and as I work in education I've had equality training etc etc. But this is a discussion forum. MN is full of threads explaining and asking for advice on their own and their child's disabilities and extra needs. You can learn a lot from others explaining how life is for them, and MN is great for that. But really, am I going to get thrown off MN for being discriminatory because I asked what kind of tasks OP might need her dog to do for her en route to a restaurant?

Yes I know. But clearly an extremely disruptive animal that is potentially a danger to others, particularly on a flight, could be removed. Even an assistance animal. There is still an expectation that the animal will be well behaved.

ADUK don’t train dogs.

They register dogs who have been trained by ADUK members - some of which work with people with physical disabilities and mobility issues to train their own pet dogs

YANBU but if the restaurant have apologized and also provided information on how they will rectify, as much as I would be annoyed at how my planned day turned out, I would be happy that they are working on bringing about positive change for the next person. Have been in similar situations where the necessary accommodations were not made, so you have my sympathy. It’s annoying but not life threatening; hopefully all staff are trained and training is updated/refreshed periodically

Mine too! @niugboo don’t you look quite the twat now!

Maybe in future start by accepting the person needs the animal, rather than taking the position that they can do without it if there is another adult present. Starting from that position, you can ask what sort of things the dog might do for them.

What are you talking about? I never said people shouldn’t be able to access reasonable adjustments. I said they aren’t required to explain their needs because someone else wants them to do? Did you even read the history of comments. The person I’m replying to suggested that her dog should have been refused because her daughter was there who could do what the dog did!

Secondly the dog is trained to toilet, on command, it’s something I’ve always trained in my dogs. Thirdly I have a raised patio and my dog is trained to toilet on that

This is awful. Dogs are living, breathing creatures and like all other living, breathing creatures when they need to go, they need to go! I don't mean randomly pooing everywhere but FFS, could you toilet 'on command'?

I'm guessing not. I feel dreadfully sorry for your poor dog.

Name one other.

YANBU. I do think there should be a central register for assistance dogs - this would stop this kind of issue - a card could be issued to show the dog was registered. Unfortunately, there are 'imposter' dogs which are not trained to perform assistance and might have behavioural issues, and, at the moment, there is no way of verifying whether an assistance dog is genuinely needed and trained.

@Sinamin

No, it's now awful. ALL Guide and other assistance dogs are trained this way...they must toilet before being 'on duty'. How else could a blind person pick up poo whilst out and about??

I've never heard of assistance dogs. Why didn't you just say it was a guide dog? It falls in to the same category, and would have meant you had no hassle - why the need to be so specific?

How helpful for all the non-disabled people who just don't want to queue, or to leave their dog at home, or to pay for their friend to accompany them to a show. They can just say they're disabled and woop.

In so many situations from benefits to spaces on a bus, we see able bodied people who resent the adjustments made for disabled people, and want them for themselves. Its sheer entitlement.
Its that entitlement thats at the heart of the problem. Try to work out a solution that doesn't make life more shit for disabled people.

Because it's not a guide dog. Whilst they both do assist, they are not the same in the functions they carry out.

While not all spurious ESAs wreak havoc, some do – with serious consequences. In 2018, Delta Air reported an 84% surge in animal incidents since 2016, including urination, defecation and biting. Recent media reports of emotional support peacocks causing pandemonium in airports, comfort hamsters getting flushed in a frenzy, and dogs storming the stage during Cats have further contributed to the sense that ESAs are an epidemic, part of a zoo where entitlement, biting, pooping, and pretty much anything else goes.

For people who do have genuine disabilities, the situation is becoming untenable.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/12/fake-emotional-support-animals-service-dogs

I think 'assistance dog' is a commonly understood term and certainly should be known to customer-facing service staff.

The OP's dog is not a guide dog and saying it was might have caused more confusion as it was probably obvious the OP is not blind.

@Jonei I appreciate they're not the same thing, but what difference does it make to the waiting staff? All they need to know is that they need to make allowance for the dog, and act accordingly. Using the term guide dog - which is better known and understood - would have led to that outcome

Bamboux yes I can see that the behaviour from people taking advantage impacts on those protected by the equality act.

People are dicks. They don't give a shit about others. They will take advantage if they can, and they do.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/12/fake-emotional-support-animals-service-dogs

People with genuine disabilities have generally welcomed e.g. the Blue Badge scheme which mean they are not reliant on hoping that other people stop acting like dicks.

No it wouldnt. If someone walked in to a restaurant with a dog they claimed was a guide dog (which are generally understood to be for the blind / visually impaired), and it was clear that the person's disability was not this / and the dog in question not suitable for the type usually used for guide dogs, then people with ordinary assistance dogs would be told to leave. Along with some other choice words. That's why there needs to be a distinction.