For being annoyed I was asked to stand on a bus because of dog allergies?

[anywayhereswonderwall]

I went to visit a friend in London today and I took my dog. It's worth noting she is a mini poodle, and hypoallergenic, and well behaved. You can barely even tell she's there. I got on the bus as part of my journey. It was the middle of the day so there were a few empty seats (but not loads).

I got on and sat down, and the woman a few rows behind me said 'can you move , I have a dog allergy'. I apologised and moved a few rows forwards, the furthest forwards I could go and still get a seat.

She then shouted forwards 'not far enough, you're going have to stand at the front'.

I was confused, but did it. I spent the rest of the 35 minute journey standing right at the front of the bus while the woman was 3/4 of the way along, sitting.

I did what she said for the journey, but when I got off I felt annoyed and I'm not sure if I'm justified.

I’m surprised at this comment, unless you’re a sock or a friend that was with @Fourteenhouses ?

You probably wouldn't believe it from that picture but my allergy is actually diagnosed as a medium risk, so who knows what a severe one would look like!

That's a shame that your reviews took a hit for your consideration. I've come to the conclusion to expect to not be accommodated for as an allergy suffer so I avoid certain places/situations or if I can't, I double dose and pray for the best.

@Kay286 I agree, I'm not sure if I worded a post incorrectly but I do also think it was wrong of that poster to demand that the dog owners left the cafe. It was a very rude way to do it too.

I am autistic as is my son, his needs are worse than mine, and I wouldn't dream of doing that.

Not a sock - you can’t namechange on threads to avoid that now.

Seems people can’t even defend me without being accused of something !

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Sounds awful and tbh I had no idea that reactions to dog dander could be that bad, but it makes sense.

If the woman at the back of the bus had an allergy as severe as you then I understand her reaction.

They'd be on shaky ground. It's illegal to deny entry to a guide dog for any reason.

I'm not sure what you mean by sock but no I wasn't with her, I just read all her responses after her initial statement of what happened.
You should try it, it helps massively in not making a fool of yourself.
@Fourteenhouses I am super impressed with the patience you've shown on this thread, honestly I'm getting frustrated on your behalf.

Lots of people actually rely on their dogs, including autistic people and not all therapy dogs are certified.

Here is another scenario for you. Person who struggles to have the confidence to leave the house without their dog goes with their pet to their local coffee shop as they do every other day. It is the dog that enables him to do everyday things like this. When they get there, they find out that someone had brought their child who has allergies and a phobia of dogs to a dog friendly cafe. The child's mum insists that they leave, argues with the cafe owner and because it is clear that she isn't going to leave, cafe owner eventually asks the dog owner to leave. Dog owner then has a panic attack brought on by the anxiety of the situation that they found themselves in.

Next time, pick a cafe that doesn't take dogs. If there is no sign, CHECK.

I didn’t actually know that was a law but it’s good to learn something as I had no idea

Because you seem incapable of thinking beyond you/your child. You assume that neither of the 2 dog walkers could equally be affected by being asked to leave. You don't know what impact that had on them individually but it is ok because your child trumps any of there needs.

Allergies are serious, but we can't create sterile environments, people carry animal dander on them, also other allergens such as nuts - we can't control every situation.

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/assistance-dogs-guide-all-businesses

As posted upthread.

Yes he was kind to do that but now you see it that it was him being kind but not a right. I would have left also with my dog when I saw the distress from your son , but my point was just that it’s not an expectation you can have , another time you may not get that result so check the next cafe you go to.
The bus situation - I have sympathy for the woman with allergies but we have to take responsibility for our own health and remove ourselves from a situation, you can’t demand others move or leave for you as much as a pain that it is.

It’s very frustrating, and upsetting . Thankyou for actually reading all my posts as I don’t think many others have bothered and are more interested in just calling me a liar because I have never seen a guide dog in rl!

I guess it’s hard for people to understand as everyone’s situation is unique with autism and we had a bad experience on that day and luckily the owner helped us , seems most people would have preferred us to have to put up with the dogs and for my son to be even more distressed or for me to get hurt dragging him out further distressing him just so they could have had coffee with their dogs

This will be me! I take my dog to my local hub, which is also a dedicated warmspace. So, in the cold months, I would spend all day there with my dog. Can't leave her at home to shiver.

Cafe is very dog friendly (they take pics of visiting dogs and post them on their social media).

Weirdly enough, same hub/cafe banned a guy with autism for having a meltdown due to feral kids in the easter holidays getting all up in his face.

The vehemence on this thread! Britain is the least dog friendly and accommodating country compared to mainland Europe and yet people on here have got so riled up at the thought of them going out in public and it doesn’t seem to be an issue at all abroad! Why does everything have to be such over the top ableist shaming or miserable attitudes to the mostly very well behaved and delightful dogs I see? It is all very entitled “my wants and needs should come above everyone else’s”. OP you did a nice thing to move as far away but I think you should have stayed in a seat and if she objected further the other lady should have got off.

Are "reasonable adjustments" required to be made in someplace like a cafe? I am genuinely asking, I am not sure.

You’ve come across as extremely entitled on this thread tbh. The cafe owner TOLD you that the premises was dog friendly but you chose to argue about it.

I am pretty certain it only applies to the workplace.

On the other hand I would have liked to have kept warm in my local warm space over winter but unlike your dog, I had to stay home and shiver instead due to an allergy which I never asked to have 🤷🏼‍♀️ Dogs trump humans for some I guess.

@Fourteenhouses
My friend has a high vis for her child that says "autism, please keep dogs away" I think you can get them on the internet, she didn't have to have it specifically printed or anything. She says often people don't read it/see it/or ignore it but I'm sure it makes a bit of difference. She wants the high vis to help keep dogs away in public places, she'd always check in advance about indoor places for dogs or other triggers. I know life can be tough with an autistic child.

I have to assert myself and be my sons voice to have his needs met. If people misinterpret that as me being entitled then that’s just one of those things

@Erex maybe I misunderstood ! It’s a very tricky scenario to navigate, in a perfect world obviously everyone could be accommodated to enjoy the establishment and I certainly appreciate a trip out with an autistic child is much harder to plan for. I think it was more the tone of expectation and their rights trumping all else because she had failed to check suitability so someone else had to leave even though they had as much right to visit.

Sorry about your allergy, but it is not my responsibility.

"My wants and my needs" can cover those wanting to take their dog where others don't want them there also.

I hadn’t thought of that , I’ll look into it. Thankyou. The rate we are going I’ll need a whole list on the back of it 😞