A blind grandmother was refused access to a daily store of Morrison's with her guide dog because the owner has 'serious pet allergies'.
Caroline Kennelly, 54, and her Golden Retriever Assistance Dougie were rejected from the Saxon Fields Estate Branch in Wincheap, Canterbury and left her on the edge of tears.
Three separate signs in the shop door state that 'no dogs' or other pet is allowed, because of the 'serious pet allergies' of the owner.
According to the laws of equality, it is illegal for stores to refuse dogs in their buildings.
But when Mrs. Kennelly visited the store for the first time on Monday, the man behind the counter stopped her at the door and told her that no dogs were allowed.
Mrs. Kennelly said to Kentonline: “Dougie was in his full armor and work equipment and I said,” No, I'm not leaving “.
“I was unbelieving there. I say to him: “You break the law. You can't refuse me here” and he would not listen. “
Although Mrs. Kennelly defended himself firmly, the employee would not deteriorate and he insisted that she would leave.
Caroline Kennelly, 54, was refused access to a daily store of Morrison's with her guide dog because the owner has 'serious pet allergies' (depicted: Mrs. Kennelly and Dougie)
The manager has since demonstrated that the branch will continue to forbid dogs, including Mrs. Kennelly's (photo: the Morrisons Daily Store in the Saxon Fields Estate, Wincheap)
The grandmother has only 3 percent of her vision left because of a rare eye disease, which at the age of 11 has been diagnosed with Pigmentosa retinitis and has been blindly registered for more than 20 years.
She is unable to distinguish fine details from further than a few meters away and has no peripheral vision.
“I was almost in tears, but I tried to keep it together,” Mrs. Kennelly continued.
“You can undergo and say,” I'm not leaving “, but inside you are in pieces because it is intimidating and it is discriminatory.
“I am a very strong person, but if things like this happen, this really influences you.”
The manager has since insisted that the branch will continue to forbid dogs, including Mennellies.
They said that an employee could do Mrs. Kennelly's shopping on request for her.
But Morrisons bosses say that the incident should not have happened and is currently working on finding a solution.
Mrs. Kennelly said that Dougie (photo) changed her life and gave her back all her independence when she got the assistance dog six years ago
Three separate signs in the shop door (depicted) state that 'no dogs' or other pet is allowed, due to the 'serious pet allergies' of the owner
According to the laws of equality, it is illegal for stores to refuse guidance of dogs on their building (shown: Dougie's qualifying certificate)
MailOnline understands that the family that works on the Morrisons every day has all serious allergies and therefore has rights to prevent dogs from entering.
But Mrs. Kennelly said that her self -confidence is shocked and she is worried that she will be refused the arrival elsewhere.
Dougie 'changed her life' and gave her back all her independence when she got the assistance dog six years ago, she said.
She describes the friendly retriever as her 'best partner', adding that his services allow her to do what she wants without limitation.
Fortunately, a friend of Mrs. Kennelly helped buy her groceries, but the 54-year-old had hoped that the store would offer a safer future alternative to crossing traffic in the neighborhood.
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights says that employers have to take 'reasonable steps' to ensure that employees with allergies have at least or no contact with dogs.
But it also states that: “Reasonable steps are unlikely that the prohibition of all assistance dogs.”
A Morrisons spokesperson said to MailOnline: “The daily supermarket in Morrisons in Canterbury is a franchise store and we work closely with the team to find a solution that works for everyone.”
