Blind Scottish Shopper’s Guide Dog Evicted from Supermarket
The only good thing about this story is that the manager apologized and I suspect that guard service will learn a thing or two about service dogs.
Thanks to The Scotsman for this article.
Blind shopper told to leave guide dog outside
GARETH EDWARDSA BLIND woman hit out today after being told she would have to leave a city supermarket unless she tied her guide dog up outside.
Georgina Liddle, 44, was stunned when a security guard ordered the dog out of the Londis store on Niddrie Mains Road, Craigmillar.
She said he refused to back down or let her speak to the manager even when she explained that it was a guide dog.The store has a sign on its front door saying no dogs are allowed except guide dogs.
Ms Liddle, who works on the production line at the nearby Blindcraft factory, had visited the store the day before with her dog Tamara without any problems.
The manager of the store today offered Ms Liddle a full apology and pledged to investigate the incident further.
Ms Liddle, of Peffer Place, Craigmillar, has been partially blind since birth. She has no sight in her left eye and hardly any vision beyond blurry shapes in her right eye.
She has had guide dog Tamara for the last six years.
“I can’t find anything without her, and so I was just amazed when this security guard asked me to tie her up outside,” she said.
“It has happened to me in the past at other shops. I don’t know why it is that people can’t understand what we need guide dogs for. I wouldn’t be able to find anything in the shop without Tamara, but this guy kept insisting she wasn’t allowed.
“I was a bit upset that no-one else stepped in to help. It sounded as if there were quite a few people in the store at the time.”
Allan Carmouch, the store manager, apologised in person to Ms Liddle for what he said was inexcusable behaviour.
“When I was told about this I was shocked as allowing guide dogs into the store is part of the basic training for staff here,” he said.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
Thanks for posting this article! That guard was very mean to the lady and her guide dog! I am glad the manager is apologizing, and I hope the guard gets a stern talking to and some good education about the laws! Also, for those who might witness a service dog being denied access, speaking up for the person with the service dog is always appreciated!
Incredible in this day and age that such a thing can still happen. However, when you pay peanuts you get monkeys or is it morons!!
There is NO excuse FIRE that GUARD NOW!!!!!
RETRAIN ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE…….
someone either an OWNER, or manager needs to HAVE BALLS to take the heat and call the MEDOCRITYof the sham running wild in AMERICA like this ……call it out expose it for the cancer that it is and CULL it RETRAIN IT FIRE IT
GET RID OF IT.
NO MORE EXCUSES FOR THIS #$%%$#behavior.
Um, no offense intended to Nickolas and Mary Ellen but I believe this took place in Scotland. Not that it makes it any better or anything… But anyway, this is a sad story of a guard not understanding the role of a service dog. I don’t know that he needs to be immediately fired; I think retraining is the key. He has undoubtably learned the lesson of a lifetime and is feeling terribly. But I am glad that the manager apologized. I should think, though, that Ms. Liddle deserves a pretty hefty gift certificate to their store.
I am apalled everytime i read about this kind of ignorance, it’s the 21st century and still the concept of a service dog escapes too many people. Also it so sad that no one stepped up in defense of the lady and her dog, though i have to say she defended herself very well, but still some support shoul’ve been given. On the bright side it’s good these incidents make the news, it educates people.
It is one of the worse experience may be and having such situations is even more worse to think of. Cannot believe.