A deaf man has explained how he felt “worthless” after he was allegedly not allowed to bring his hearing dog into a London restaurant – which is against the law.
A north London restaurant may face legal action after allegedly refusing to allow a profoundly deaf man to bring in his specially-trained hearing dog.
Author Michael Forester, 59, says he was left feeling “worthless” after being “illegally” turned away from Indonesian restaurant Jakarta in Colindale earlier this month.
He arrived with his assistance dog Matt for a meal with his daughter and her partner, but says he was met with horrified looks and told to leave.
Mr Forester attempted to stand his ground, saying the restaurant was legally obliged to allow the dog in under the Equality Act, but was eventually forced to dine elsewhere.
“I felt worthless, like I was not good enough to eat in this restaurant,” he told the Standard.
Read the full story here: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/north-london-restaurant-under-fire-for-refusing-to-allow-deaf-man-to-bring-in-hearing-dog-a2948171.html#commentsDiv
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Cathy
September 22, 2015
Oh dear, this happened to another lady I know. We both went to a restaurant and were turned away because of her hearing dog. She remonstrated with the manager, to no avail. He wanted her to tie it up outside by the entrance. She refused.
She told Hearing Dogs about it and I think one of them went to the same restaurant with his dog and was also refused entry.
To be honest Iam not 100% behind the notion of taking dogs into restaurants. Some people have serious allergies to dogs, without even touching them so what happens then?
It will be interesting to see what happens to this case, it would also highlight cultural problems where both sides want their “rights” and it would certainly make difficulties for those with allergies to dog fur.
I await the outcome for both restaurants.
LJ.
September 22, 2015
I am profoundly deaf myself and with due respects to the majority of the other diners in the restaurant I would NOT take a dog in there even if I had one. Do the deaf like myself really need a trained dog with them? I think not. Blind people is an entirely different matter. When this matter gets into the newspapers it’ll make us look even more disabled than we really are. How is a deaf/hearing dog going to help profoundly deaf in a restaurant I ask?
Natalya D
September 22, 2015
My partner is very allergic to dogs, cannot touch them, or be in a very doggy space but she would never want a registered assistance animal and their owner restricted in public spaces. Her usual policy is to ensure she can sit as far away as possible and registered assistance animals are usually well behaved so they don’t jump, lick or rub people so that usually works.
Please don’t use “allergic to dogs” as an excuse for promoting anti-assistance animals feelings. Very few people are as allergic to dogs as my partner and with tact and diplomacy that is managed.
Hearing dogs like other assistance animals cannot be left for long periods of time alone as they are highly trained to work so get very lonely and anxious if left alone for more than 30-60 minutes or so. It isn’t safe to leave a dog in a car (overheating issues). When assistance dogs have to retire they are often kept by the original owner, adopted by a family member or an official adoption is arranged with someone who can spend a lot of time with them so they can live out their days happily.