Apologies after guide dog banned from cafe (From Wirral Globe)

Apologies after guide dog banned from cafe

7:55am Wednesday 18th April 2007 in News By Kate Starkey

A café owner has apologised after telling a blind man to take his guide dog outside.

Pensioner David Froggatte said he was given a frosty reception from staff at Thurstaston café GJ's.

The 64 year old who had travelled to the borough from Liverpool was left feeling "embarrassed and astonished" when he and his guide dog Jester were ill-treated.

David and a friend decided to go into the café for refreshments before heading back to his home in Liverpool.

After finding a table his friend went up to the counter whilst David settled his dog but a member of staff told David that dog's were not allowed in the café.

David explained that this was a guide dog and the law permits guide dogs in café's, the member of staff turned and walked away.

"I was astonished, they should have known that it is illegal not to allow guide dogs."

David Froggatte

He said:"The woman made it quite clear that we were not welcome. I was astonished, they should have known that it is illegal not to allow guide dogs.

"I regularly visit a lot of café's on the Wirral and they usually offer my dog a bowl of water."

However as they didn't offer David got out his own plastic bowl and a bottle of water that he carries around with him.

David added: "The same lady then came back over and said whether it is a guide dog or not, you can't give a bowl of water to a dog inside the cafe, its unhygienic."

By this time Jester had already finished his water.

Although David was not asked to leave the café or refused service, he does feel that the staff on duty need to be educated on the law in order for this not to happen to someone else.

Cheryl Baguley, owner of GJ's café, said: "The member of staff on duty did not realise that the dog was a guide dog and this is why she informed the customer that dogs were not allowed.

"We do have a sign on the door which states that we do have two designated tables for guide dogs, which are at the front of the cafe, which were empty at the time.

""We do apologise to the customer if he felt that he received a frosty reception. We do all we can to welcome and accommodate customers with or without disabilities.

"If the customer was to come back again he could be assured of the best service possible."