BLIND FURY
Pensioner left blind from cancer turfed out of a corner shop because of her guide dog
Stunned Elaine Mitchell was told her guide dog Natalie could not be inside the convenience store in Rochdale
A BLIND cancer survivor claims she was turfed out of a "disgraceful" convenience store because of her GUIDE DOG.
Stunned Elaine Mitchell claims she was told to leave the Variety Food Stores in Rochdale, Greater Manchester after taking guide dog Natalie in with her.
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The gran-of-11, who is in remission from stage three breast cancer, was at the store with daughter Laura last Tuesday when a male employee asked her to leave.
Elaine, who also suffers from congenital myelitis with an astigamitsm - making her blind, has been left scared to go out since the shocking incident.
The Guide Dogs charity has called the incident "appalling" - but the store has apologised and said it was a misunderstanding because of the employee's poor English.
Registered blind Elaine, from Rochdale, said: "I felt humiliated and sick when it happened.
"He came over and said 'get out with the dog' and even though my daughter repeatedly told him that Natalie was my guide dog he wouldn't have it.
"He said 'yes I know, out'.
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"I went outside and burst into tears. I'm not normally like that but it really embarrassed me – I felt two inches tall. I'll never use that shop again."
Elaine says she has only recently gained the confidence to go out alone with the two-year-old black Labrador after her sight deteriorated.
The gran, who also underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in December last year, has reported the incident to Rochdale Council and the Guide Dogs charity.
Elaine said: "My vision's got worse over the years. I can see light and dark but if someone isn't very close to me I can't see them.
"Until I got Natalie I didn't go anywhere unless someone took me – I lost my independence.
"My daughter helps when she can but she's a mum and she studies and volunteers so she has a lot on.
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"Natalie is absolutely beautiful and so well behaved, I've been out for meals with her in pubs and we've had no problems.
"My confidence was rock bottom until I got her eight months ago, having her has really boosted it.
"Since then I've been out every single day, but after what happened at the shop I've been nervous but I have to take Natalie out for her walks.
"I want to stand up for guide dogs, it's just not right."
Elaine's furious daughter Laura, 26, alleges she was told she could stay in the shop and purchase the items her mum had picked out providing Natalie stayed outside.
Mum-of-four Laura said: "I think it's disgusting – it's never happened before.
"I told him she was a guide dog as I pointed at the sticker and said it was against the law to not allow her into the shop, but he just kept saying that dogs weren't allowed.
"It's discriminating against the blind.
"I could understand if it was someone with a pet but it's Natalie's job to help my mum.
"As soon as my mum holds her harness she's in working mode – she's really well trained and such a good dog.
"Mum can say 'take me to Laura's' or 'find me a seat' and she's able to do it – she's so clever."
Cllr Janet Emsley, cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing at Rochdale Council, said: "No one should face discrimination because of a disability.
"Should we receive a complaint we will assist the resident in reporting the issue to the Equality Advisory and Support Service.
"We will also be following up with the owner of the premises to ensure they are in full compliance with their responsibilities."
James White, senior campaigns manager for charity Guide Dogs, said: "People with sight loss rely on their guide dogs to live with freedom and confidence, and it's extremely distressing for them to be asked to leave like this.
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"Despite legal protection, our research shows that around half of all guide dog owners have faced an access refusal and as a charity, Guide Dogs is campaigning to change this.
"We were appalled to hear about what happened to Elaine, especially as she has only recently become a guide dog owner."
A Variety Food Stores spokesman said: "We are truly sorry for what has happened.
"The member of staff in question can only speak broken English, he speaks Urdu at home, so he probably didn't understand when he was told it was a guide dog and thought it
was just a dog.
"As soon as we heard about what happened we contacted the lady via Facebook to apologise and hopefully sort it out.
"Guide dogs are allowed in store, as the sticker states, and all our staff have been told this again."
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