A vision impaired Kiama woman wants to raise awareness about the role - and rights - of assistance dogs after she and cavoodle Toby were refused entry to several cafes.
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Merryn Joske, 57, who is legally blind in one eye, and has significant issues in the other, received her Pets as Therapy dog three years ago.
At the time she was basically housebound, but with Toby by her side she’s found the confidence to get back out in her local community.
However in recent months that confidence has taken a battering after four different cafes in the Kiama municipality refused the pair entry, despite official documentation from Guide Dogs NSW.
‘’Toby is not trained as a guide dog but has the same rights in terms of going into shops, cafes and onto public transport,’’ Ms Joske said.
‘’Most businesses are great but in the last couple of months four restaurants in Kiama and surrounding suburbs have told me in no uncertain terms that we are not welcome.
‘’It’s just ignorance but it’s embarrassing and upsetting and I want to raise awareness about this to ensure it doesn’t happen to others.’’
Toby wears a Pets as Therapy tag with his code on it while Ms Joske carries her paperwork with her and also rings ahead if she can.
‘’Last week I left a message on the answering machine of a cafe but when I got there and brought Toby inside the manager yelled out ‘It’s illegal to have a dog in here, get him out’,’’ she said.
‘’I asked him if he wanted to see the paperwork and he refused. He said I could take a seat outside but by that stage I didn’t want to stay as everyone was watching.’’
A spokeswoman for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT said the Disability Discrimination Act included access rights provisions for assistance and companion animals such as Pets as Therapy dogs.
‘’Pets as Therapy is a community service provided by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT,’’ she said. ‘’It is aimed at people who will benefit from the companionship that is provided by a loving pet. This includes people who may have limited social contact due to disability, age or ill health.
‘’They are trained in basic obedience as well as to walk next to a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or walking stick, if necessary, and are also exposed to traffic and shopping centres.’’
The Mercury contacted the cafe owner who cited ‘’hygiene concerns’’ as the reason for his actions. However he said he would handle the situation differently in the future.
‘’We did offer her a table outside as I didn’t think it was hygenic to have animals inside,’’ he said. ‘’But it’s probably a good thing to have some awareness around this, so other businesses know what to expect.’’