Monday 30 May 2022

Catty Corners

 An American expression, meaning 'diagonally opposite' [from a misunderstanding of the French quatre coins = four corners] It appears that there is going to be a case coming to the courts regarding supermarket access, with Sainsburys taking the opposite position to a cat.

Here is Chloe, with her owner Ian. Ian was recently diagnosed with autism, and Chloe's presence helps him stay calm. However he was  refused entry to his local store - Guide Dogs are allowed, but not cats. Sainsburys say "While Chloe may be well-behaved, if it altered its general policy it could present a risk of other more unruly cats causing havoc - and it would have no way of assessing an animal's behaviour or training."

It is hoped that this court case will clarify the UK law regarding "Emotional Support Animals". This is a hot topic worldwide. In America in 2018 there was much discussion of an 'emotional support peacock' called Dexter being barred from taking a United Airlines Flight with its nervous owner. In Australia, things seem to be a little clearer about the rights of such creatures.

I honestly do not know what I think. I fully appreciate this gentleman has major anxiety issues, and that Chloe is good for supporting him through that. As a teacher, I have sat through many school visits by representatives from "Pets as Therapy" who are a well established UK charity providing such support. I am aware that the mental health of the nation in general has suffered in the past two years. I have worked with teenagers at the Autism Unit in Leicestershire, and recognise their genuine special needs.

But I have also worked with children who suffer from asthma. I know that one in eight of the UK population suffers from some form of asthma- and half of them will have allergic asthma. If one of these people has any contact with cats, cat hair or cat dander, then there is a 1 in 4 likelihood of an extreme reaction.  Would I feel comfortable with my asthmatic child in a buggy or supermarket trolley if Ian is next to me, bending down to reach a can of beans from the shelf  - with Chloe in his backpack? 

The Guide Dogs Association puts all its animals through incredibly stringent preparation, PAT stress that all their animals are "temperament-assessed" before they are allowed to 'go to work'. Ian says that Chloe is trained, and always wears an 'assistance animal' jacket when she accompanies him to shops, on public transport, and into restaurants etc. 

Equality legislation currently makes it unlawful to refuse entry on the grounds of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation and disability amongst other things. Discrimination arising from disability is when someone is treated unfairly because of something connected to the disability rather than the disability itself [eg refusing to allow a person in the store if their guide dog is with them] But food shops must also [rightly] abide by stringent hygiene standards, and have a duty of care towards all their customers.

I don't know the answer here - what do you think?

 

18 comments:

  1. Your point about allergies is important. Assistance dogs are walking down at floor level whereas this cat seems to be at head height. On the whole I suggest home deliveries would be the best option after all I would not feel happy sharing a shopping isle with a pet rat however much it calmed the owner.

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    1. I'm not sure if you meant to type Cat or Rat there!

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    2. I did mean rat because once you have widened the criteria who knows what animals will be claimed as calming.

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    3. Thanks for clarification. I would NOT be calm if I encountered a RAT in Sainsbury's!

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  2. Rights are important but they are not everything. We have obligations too.

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  3. Where does the definition of assistance pet stop? I have asthma and the thought that any animal classed as assistance could come into food shops eg cat, rat, ferret, bird etc. makes me truly anxious. We have to avoid anywhere that allows pets of any kind which means our eating out choices are now restricted. Catriona

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    1. It is so hard when the presence of one person (with animal) will automatically preclude the other (with health issues)

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  4. Gosh, if this were allowed it would open the floodgates for all sorts of animals that maybe quite rightly 'emotional support animals/birds/reptiles etc' BUT they do not always need to go shopping with their owners. Home deliveries for instance could be used, or maybe a friend to sit outside with the animal so the person who actually needs it can come outside for some support during their shopping expedition etc etc There are ways round these things, as there has been for decades.

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    1. But it's not always easy to find the acceptable alternatives

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  5. I'm really aware that I'm probably going to get told off for this but I'm giggling about an Emotional Support Peacock! Did it spend the entire flight making that horrific "Eeeeoooow!" noise as its ears adjusted to pressure??? I mean, a Peacock is a little impractical- it can expand!!! What do you do if the peacock suddenly feels attracted to something??

    I'm not sure what I think about this either for the reasons you say, that means someone will be discriminated by- asthma suffers for example. Can't the animal come in in a pet carrier?
    I'm curious what this gentleman did during the years before his autism was diagnosed. Was he unable to go into shops?

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  6. While I sympathize with the fellow who needs the emotional support, I do sometimes think that in this day and age we fall over ourselves trying to make everything right for everyone, always resulting in something going wrong for someone else. I love animals but I can see that it could be torment for someone with allergies to be on a plane for 6 or 7 hours next to someone with a little support dog or cat. We need to be loving and supportive to all who are struggling in this life, but sometimes that is all we can do. Some of the greatest injustices in the present day have resulted from acts of phony compassion which don't take into account the bigger picture.

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    1. It's the equality/equity/justice problem

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  7. I empathise with people who benefit from emotional support animals. But when one person create difficulties with many other people, that is not good.
    There was a dog on my flight that barked and howled and generally made lots of noise. It was supposed to be in the underseat carrier but the owner had it in her lap most of the time. Because there was lots of turbulence, the flight attendants had to remain seated for most of the time. So all of us were very unhappy. If anyone were allergic to dog hair/dander, that would have made for a very unpleasant or painful situation. Is that fair for the rest of us? It's not like we can choose to exit the plane in midair!
    If Ian needs Chloe, I understand. But his need does not supercede the rights of everyone else to clean and hygenic places.
    Your right to swing your arm stops one inch from my nose. ~skye

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  8. Thank you Skye. I particularly like your final sentence!

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  9. I remember following someone around a Safeways (remember them?) who had an extremely well behaved cat in a basket. At the time I was owned by three cats and I know that they would have caused utter havoc. I hate the idea of someone feeling excluded from life, but I would feel uncomfortable shopping in a place that was regularly visited by cats. I'm glad that I am not responsible for making that decision!

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