NSW: Eateries urged to embrace guide dogs

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2009
NSW: Eateries urged to embrace guide dogs

EDS: Embargoed until 0001 (AEST) on Wednesday, April 29.



By Patrick Caruana

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Some of NSW's most gifted canines are getting a dog of a deal
when it comes to eating out with their human companions.

A recent survey shows one in three Australians were unaware guide dogs are allowed
in restaurants.

As a result, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is embarking on an education campaign aimed at reminding
NSW restaurateurs and cafe owners of their legal obligations.

The Guide Dogs Welcome Here campaign is being launched on Wednesday to coincide with
International Guide Dog Day.

Guide Dogs spokeswoman Jenny Moon said the disabled and their furry friends were regularly
refused service, but thinks ignorance rather than discrimination is to blame.

"Anecdotally, it is happening on a regular basis, and it may be that people don't report
it, but they are dealing with it," Ms Moon told AAP.

"You would hope to think that it's just ignorance, but whether they realise it or not,
they are discriminating."

Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes, himself a guide dog user,
said he had been refused entry at restaurants.

"It doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen on a regular basis," Mr Innes told AAP.

"It can also be more subversive, where they'll say: `You can have a table, but it has
to be outside'."

He says the federal Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal for eateries to
refuse entry to guide dog users.

"There are examples of complaints where damages have been awarded against restaurants,
in the range of $500 to $2,500 depending on the circumstances," he said.

"(But) only a very small percentage of complaints actually get to court."

Mr Innes said the argument that guide dogs a posed hygiene problem was false.

"The reality is: the food is on the table, the dog is on the floor, so unless you're
going to be eating off the floor or the dog's up on the table, you just don't have a problem,"

he said.

Ms Moon said simply placing a Guide Dogs Welcome Here sticker on restaurant windows
made a big difference.

"The sticker shows to other people that this particular cafe is on board, supporting
us," she said.

"The more we educate, the better it's going to be for guide dog users, and it makes
it easier for them to lead a normal lifestyle."

Ms Moon said the campaign also hoped to educate people that guide dogs were working
animals and shouldn't be petted or fed by strangers.

"Part of the campaign is encouraging to people to ignore the dogs, ignore them and
resist the temptation to pat them or feed them," she said.

"We do understand that it is really hard, because the dogs are so attractive."

Free information kits are available by calling Guide Dogs NSW/ACT on (02) 9412 9300.

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