A PENSIONER with anxiety has blasted Wetherspoons after staff barred her from two different pubs – fearing her emotional support dog would be too “threatening” to customers.
Sheila Dean, 75, and her pet Daisy, a Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier cross known as a Shorkie, were refused entry to the budget boozers.
The OAP, who is a regular to the chain, said she was told all emotional support dogs are banned, despite claiming it’s never been a problem previously.
Only official assistance animals such as guide dogs are permitted inside.
Sheila said she was stopped from entering the Eric Bartholomew in Morecambe, Lancs, two weeks ago after being told “some people don’t like being around them dogs” and that punters can find them “threatening”.
Sheila said: “I couldn’t even sit with Daisy on the benches out by the pavement.”
A similar incident happened shortly afterwards when she was visiting Preston and wanted to go into The Twelve Tellers.
She told The Sun: “I was told that I was not allowed to bring in an emotional support dog because some people don’t like them.
“I mean, she’s only a small thing that sits between my legs under the table when I am eating.”
Sheila, of Cheshire, who got 11-inch-tall Daisy six years ago to help her cope with the loss of her mother, needs Daisy for her own confidence. Tragically, she then lost her husband five months later.
She said: “There’s no way I’d go out on my own.”
In both pubs, Sheila said that Daisy had on her lead and collar, and Sheila was carrying the card that shows Daisy is fully trained as an emotional support dog.
The pensioner is planning to go and visit her cousin in Preston next week, who just had a triple heart bypass, but she is concerned that she won’t be allowed entry into venues with her dog.
Wetherspoons website states that only official assistance dogs are allowed in their pubs, which are pets to help those with disabilities or medical conditions.
Emotional support dogs are not classed as the same and instead are companion animals that aren’t trained to the same standard.
It states: “We do not permit dogs or other animals. “This includes beer gardens, car parks and outside pavement areas.
“We realise that this may seem quite strict, but our pubs are busy, with families and children present, and we serve a lot of food.
“We do welcome assistance dogs.
“If possible, it would be helpful to our staff if your assistance dog were to wear a recognisable leash/collar or harness and if you could bring suitable documentation with you (although not mandatory requirements).”
This has been policy since September 2018.
A Wetherspoons spokesman told The Sun: “As in many, but not all, catering establishments, we do not allow dogs or other animals in our pubs.
“Even well trained dogs can behave unpredictably in busy places and some customers are frightened of dogs, or may be allergic to them.
“In addition, many customers do not like dogs present when eating.
“An exception is made for trained assistance dogs, including guide dogs.
“We do not, however, allow entry to emotional support dogs.
“We have recently reissued guidance to our pub teams and updated information for customers on our website, but there has been no change to our policy.”
Can you bring your dog into shops?
There is no law that prevents dogs from entering shops, banks or local businesses, so it’s up to individual retailers to decide whether to allow them on their sites.
All of the major supermarkets in the UK ban pooches, apart from assistance dogs, which they are required to admit under the Equality Act.
Shops welcoming dogs include many independent retailers, cafes and pubs as well as big-name stores including:
- John Lewis
- Oliver Bonas
- Go Outdoors
- Mountain Warehouse
- The Range
- Wilko
John Lewis began allowing dogs in store in 2019 and continues to welcome them in all stores as they are “well behaved” and kept on a lead or carried at all times.
But, there are many other retailers who welcome dogs and website dogfriendly.co.uk lists more than 1,500 shops where dogs can accompany their owners.
Many high street clothing retailers also allow dogs in some stores, including:
- White Stuff
- Fat Face
- Jules
- H&M
- Reiss
- Zara
However, dogs are not always permitted across all locations.
The decision is often at the branch manager’s discretion, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and check ahead of a shopping spree.
Other high street retailers which often allow dogs in stores include:
- Waterstones
- Apple
- Office
- Anthropologie
- Lush
- Accessorize
Major garden centres including Dobbie’s and Wyevale are also dog-friendly.
While more and more shops are allowing dogs to enter, some are sticking firmly to their no dogs policies.
Marks & Spencer, Primark and Next all continue to refuse dogs access to their stores, aside from assistance dogs.