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 was in Newark Airport, New Jersey on Saturday and saw at least 5 dogs in terminals A and C. There were even special areas for them to go for a pee. It’s obviously perfectly normal in the USA.

So if you decide to have a dog, you should love them enough to take them by taxi (if not by walking) to the nearest vet. It will not cost you more, cumulatively, than their food

that is piffle!
How does someone without any money to spare magic up the cash for a taxi?

it is perfectly acceptable to take dogs on buses. I have also seen cats and rabbits in pet carriers, and one memorable occasion, a ferret in a sack, which was then taken out and had a great time climbing over people.

Dogs are welcome in Starbucks too.

Queue the sneezing people getting their coffee. God, I don't think hay fever exists, it's just dog allergies! Anti-histamines will help anyway. But your usual.

@Fourteenhouses I would not consider asking someone else to leave the cafe as 'reasonable adjustments' unless they were being abusive towards staff and other customers.

I have a disabled child and I would consider it my responsibility to remove her from the situation that is causing her distress. I would never in a million years expect other people to bow to my wishes.

@Fourteenhouses Additionally, allergies and a fear of dogs would not come under the definition of a 'disability' under the Equality Act.

It isn't a culture. Dogs have always been allowed, and are still allowed to be on public transport. Educate yourself maybe.

B & Q it’s up to the individual shop.
I know our local one does

I will admit @XelaM
When I spotted you’d tagged me I really thought I was in for a bashing. I actually squinted at your message, like that was going to make a difference. 🤣

@Fourteenhouses I know this is a hypothetical situation but I can’t believe you actually think that if a guide dog owner (or other assistance dog!) came in after you and your DS that you would be entitled to ask them to leave, as you stated further up thread. It would be completely illegal for the cafe owner to ask them to do so and they could be sued. Not only illegal but just completely unreasonable from you.

@Feochadan I’m not surprised you had negative reviews, you’re lucky you have avoided being sued. It is illegal not to allow someone access because of a service dog, except in very certain circumstances and this does not include holiday accommodation. The people booking with you did not need to put that they were bringing an assistance dog but probably did so out of politeness and as a courtesy so you were aware re: additional time needed for cleaning etc. Seeing posts like yours makes me very weary about disclosing our guide dog on bookings to places for fear of being discriminated against.

For those saying dogs shouldn't be allowed on public transport, how do I get my dog to the vet as I don't have a car?

Someone upthread said you should take a taxi. Public transport is just that - public. People aren't going to like everyone and everything on it. I hate it when people wear strong perfume but don't ask them to move. Or when they have bad BO but I don't ask them to move. I'd rather a dog over those any day.

I would like to qualify this by saying it depends on the severity of the allergy.

@justlurkinghere A taxi would cost me £30 round trip as opposed to a £6 day rider. Although my dog is small enough to go in a cat carrier which I usually do when on a bus.

I don't think you should take a taxi, that was someone else upthread I was referring to. People will just have to deal with the dog the way they deal with other undesirable things on public transport.

If dogs are allowed then people who use such facilities and are allergic to dogs just have to use with caution. Bring a face mask. Allergies don't give anyone some special entitlement to dictate where people can sit on a bus. Or where they can drink coffee.

@justlurkinghere Sorry, I wasn't saying you were saying that - it's me not wording things properly 😁

This

Don’t be silly.

Someone should say this on the thread where people reckon they’d refuse £1 million in exchange for their dog 🤣

Would you leave if £45 worth of food had just been put down in front of you?

Well shame on you.

Why did you take your scared allergic child to a cafe that's dog friendly and then expect to keep people with dogs out?

Your ds doesn't come first.

(Mum if a disabled child here who has autism as part of his send)

OP I can see why you're annoyed. I often do as people ask and then kick myself afterwards for being so passive!

Allergies AND distress due to autism / fear of dogs and last time I checked having a disability is a reason for reasonable adjustments- having a dog doesn’t afford the same rights😂 the cafe owner saw sense and realised that they had to prioritise someone and despite being ‘dog friendly’ accommodated the needs of the person with the rights

Reasonable adjustments.

It's not reasonable to expect someone to change their business model because you decided to visit knowing that.

The same way as a business isn't expected to modify the whole building because someone is in a wheelchair and wants to visit. They can be expected to provide a ramp of it has a step and is a public building the should be expected to require (eg council building)

I'm not a dog lover but I'm struggling with the concept of ordering other people to move seats or vacate premises because they have dogs with them and those dogs are otherwise permitted. Who died and put you in charge?

And the person who took a disabled child who was scared of dogs to a dog friendly cafe?? I ask you!