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Disabled woman with assistance dog told to leave York Subway shop | |
(6 days later) | |
Louise Harris, pictured with assistance dog Bella, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 | Louise Harris, pictured with assistance dog Bella, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 |
A woman with multiple sclerosis said she felt "discriminated against" after being told to leave a Subway sandwich shop as she was with her assistance dog. | A woman with multiple sclerosis said she felt "discriminated against" after being told to leave a Subway sandwich shop as she was with her assistance dog. |
Louise Harris, 42, said she entered the Subway on Pavement in York on Saturday with Bella when a staff member told her: "You can't come in with a dog." | Louise Harris, 42, said she entered the Subway on Pavement in York on Saturday with Bella when a staff member told her: "You can't come in with a dog." |
Ms Harris said she told the worker Bella was an assistance dog and was allowed to enter under the Equality Act, however he told her they "only accept guide dogs". | Ms Harris said she told the worker Bella was an assistance dog and was allowed to enter under the Equality Act, however he told her they "only accept guide dogs". |
Subway is yet to responded to a request from the BBC for a comment in response. | Subway is yet to responded to a request from the BBC for a comment in response. |
Ms Harris said her family had travelled from Stoke-on-Trent to York to see the city centre ice trail and stopped off at the sandwich shop for lunch. | Ms Harris said her family had travelled from Stoke-on-Trent to York to see the city centre ice trail and stopped off at the sandwich shop for lunch. |
"When I got through the door, a staff member shouted at me from behind the counter," she said. | "When I got through the door, a staff member shouted at me from behind the counter," she said. |
Ms Harris, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2007, told the staff member the dog was wearing an assistance coat and said she "assists me with my disability". | Ms Harris, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2007, told the staff member the dog was wearing an assistance coat and said she "assists me with my disability". |
She said he replied: "I don't care what your dog has got on, we only accept guide dogs." | She said he replied: "I don't care what your dog has got on, we only accept guide dogs." |
Under the 2010 Equality Act it is illegal to refuse access to a disabled person with their assistance dog, except in exceptional circumstances. | Under the 2010 Equality Act it is illegal to refuse access to a disabled person with their assistance dog, except in exceptional circumstances. |
Louise was asked to leave the York city centre branch of Subway after she went in with her assistance dog | Louise was asked to leave the York city centre branch of Subway after she went in with her assistance dog |
Ms Harris said she paid for the sandwiches she had pre-ordered online and was told to leave the shop. | Ms Harris said she paid for the sandwiches she had pre-ordered online and was told to leave the shop. |
"It put a dampener on the day, it felt like I'm not counted as a member of the public," she said. | "It put a dampener on the day, it felt like I'm not counted as a member of the public," she said. |
"I felt very discriminated against, upset, I didn't feel like a real person." | "I felt very discriminated against, upset, I didn't feel like a real person." |
She said all businesses and employees should gain training in order for them to understand the law. | She said all businesses and employees should gain training in order for them to understand the law. |
"[MS] affects quite a lot of my day-to-day living, like opening doors, picking things up off the floor - if I drop anything Bella will pick it up," she said. | "[MS] affects quite a lot of my day-to-day living, like opening doors, picking things up off the floor - if I drop anything Bella will pick it up," she said. |
"Basically, without her, I wouldn't be able to go anywhere." | "Basically, without her, I wouldn't be able to go anywhere." |
Ms Harris had to leave a Staffordshire pub due to the same issue in 2023. | Ms Harris had to leave a Staffordshire pub due to the same issue in 2023. |
She added: "You don't want to go in shops and feel discriminated against from the word go, you want to be able to feel the same as everybody else." | She added: "You don't want to go in shops and feel discriminated against from the word go, you want to be able to feel the same as everybody else." |
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