A disabled man has shared his embarrassment after leaving a pub when staff asked for additional identification for his assistance dog, Henry, a black Labrador. Graham Watts, who relies on Henry due to medical issues such as falls and blackouts, had visited the Wetherspoon pub, The Stannary Court, in Plympton, Devon, numerous times without issue. However, on this occasion, staff requested further information about Henry’s status as an assistance dog, which made Watts uncomfortable and led him to leave.
Wetherspoon operates a “no dog policy” in its pubs, with exceptions for assistance dogs. However, the company explained that staff needed to assess whether a dog qualified as an assistance dog. The issue arose when Henry was wearing a harness that indicated he was a therapy dog, not an assistance dog according to the pub’s policy. The staff asked for additional details to verify Henry’s status, but Watts, feeling the attention of the pub was focused on him, chose to leave the venue.
Watts, who describes Henry as his “ticket to freedom,” has used the dog for support in public settings, especially when he experiences blackouts or falls. Henry is trained to remain with him at all times, carrying a tag with Mr. Watts’ medical details and a note stating that the dog is not to be separated from him.
Wetherspoon clarified that it does not allow emotional support or therapy dogs but makes exceptions for highly trained assistance dogs that help customers with disabilities. The company acknowledged the challenges businesses face with identifying assistance dogs, as some identification can be easily purchased online without proper verification of the dog’s training or purpose.
For Watts, the situation left him feeling embarrassed, as he explained, “Disability does not embarrass me, but when people stand and stare at you, you get uncomfortable.”
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