A blind grandmother was denied entry to a Morrisons Daily Store with her guide dog because the owner has ‘severe pet allergies’.
Caroline Kennelly, 54, and her golden retriever assistance dog Dougie were turned away from the Saxon Fields estate branch in Wincheap, Canterbury, leaving her on the verge of tears.
Three separate signs in the shop door state that ‘no dogs’ or any other pet is allowed, owing to the owner’s ‘severe pet allergies’.
Under equality laws, it is illegal for shops to refuse guide dogs on their premises.
But when Ms Kennelly visited the store for the first time on Monday, the man behind the counter stopped her at the door, telling her no dogs were allowed.
Ms Kennelly told KentOnline: ‘Dougie was in his full harness and working equipment, and I said, “No, I’m not leaving”.
‘I stood there in disbelief. I’m saying to him, “You are breaking the law. You are not allowed to deny me access here” and he wouldn’t listen.’
Although Ms Kennelly firmly defended herself, the employee would not back down and insisted that she leave.
Caroline Kennelly, 54, was denied entry to a Morrisons Daily Store with her guide dog because the owner has ‘severe pet allergies’ (Pictured: Ms Kennelly and Dougie)
The manager has since insisted the branch will continue to ban dogs, including Ms Kennelly’s (File image)
The grandmother has only 3 percent of her vision left due to a rare eye disease, having been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 11 and registered blind for more than 20 years.
She is unable to make out fine details from further than a few feet away and has no peripheral vision.
‘I was nearly in tears but I was trying to hold it together,’ Ms Kennelly continued.
‘You can stand your ground and say “I’m not leaving” but inside you are in pieces because it’s intimidating and it’s discriminatory.
‘I’m a very strong person but when things like this happen it really does affect you.’
The manager has since insisted the branch will continue to ban dogs, including Ms Kennelly’s.
They said a staff member could do Ms Kennelly’s shopping for her upon request.
But Morrisons bosses say the incident should not have happened and are currently working to find a solution.
Ms Kennelly said Dougie (pictured) changed her life and gave her all her independence back when she got the assistance dog six years ago
Three separate signs in the shop door (pictured) state that ‘no dogs’ or any other pet is allowed, owing to the owner’s ‘severe pet allergies’
Under equality laws, it is illegal for shops to refuse guide dogs on their premises (Pictured: Dougie’s qualification certificate)
MailOnline understands that the family working at the Morrisons Daily store all have severe allergies and do therefore have rights to stop dogs from entering.
But Ms Kennelly said her confidence has been shaken and she worries that she will be refused entry elsewhere.
Dougie ‘changed her life’ and gave her all her independence back when she got the assistance dog six years ago, she said.
She describes the friendly retriever as her ‘best mate’, adding that his services allow her to do whatever she wants without limitation.
Luckily, a friend of Ms Kennelly helped by buying her groceries but the 54-year-old had hoped the store would provide a safer future alternative to crossing nearby traffic.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission says employers must take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure that workers with allergies have minimal or no contact with dogs.
But it also states that: ‘Reasonable steps are unlikely to include banning all assistance dogs.’
A Morrisons spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The Morrisons Daily convenience store in Canterbury is a franchise store and we are working closely with the team there to find a solution that works for everyone.’
