Pair upset by blind injustice (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pair upset by blind injustice

5:45am Friday 3rd October 2008

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A BLIND mother and daughter say they are being repeatedly turned away from places because of their guide dogs.

Mandy Moore, 41, and 19-year-old daughter Tara, who both live in Wallisdown, are registered blind and rely on their dogs for their freedom.

But between them, they say they have been stopped from entering shops, restaurants and pubs in Bournemouth and Poole four times in recent months.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association say restricting access based on disability is illegal and that applies to people with guide dogs.

Mrs Moore said: "It makes you feel very angry.

"I've tried to argue with them but they are not having any of it.

"We haven't been given reasons, they just haven't let the dogs in," she added.

Guide dogs are given special dispensation for entry to restaurants and food outlets because of their levels of training and grooming.

In most cases, they will just curl up at their owner's feet or under a table.

"A lot of people don't even notice they are in a restaurant until you walk out," said Mandy.

Vicky Bell, spokesperson for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said the ignorance of proprietors who turn away dogs usually comes down to education.

She said: "Great strides have been made, but we still get at least one recorded complaint a day from someone who has been turned away because of their dog.

"Once service owners know they are responsible for letting dogs in, they are fine."

She added people can be loathe to return to a place where they have been turned way from, eroding the freedom a guide dog brings them.

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