Assistance Cat Man Suing Sainsbury

[tiggerblue10]

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-05-27/man-sues-sainsburys-for-banning-his-assistance-cat

Not sure if this has already been posted but how would you feel about an assistance cat being brought into a supermarket?

It wouldn't bother me at all being a cat person but I know others may feel differently. Are guide dogs allowed in supermarkets? I know there are health and hygiene implications but the cat was on the chaps shoulder and seemed quite happy there.

[Bobbisox1]

It wouldn’t bother me either Tiggs, the kitty just lay on the man’s shoulder and if that helped his autism,that’s a good thing , on the other hand I’m fed up with this claim culture of ours

[jno]

I know what a guide dog does, but what exactly does an assistance cat do?

[tiggerblue10]

I'm sure Sainsburys can foot the bill, Bobbi ;o)

[jennyjoan]

I am not into cats either but it was doing no harm - just a bloody jobsworth trying to do a job. The cat also had a hi-viz jacket on so it was obvious it was an assistance cat. Hope the guy gets good compensation.

[jennyjoan]

jno - cat on his shoulder calms him down -

[tiggerblue10]

In this instance, Jno, the cat is helping with this man's autism.

My son takes fidget toys everywhere he goes.

[Atheist]

jno; Reassures him, I suppose. It's something I've not heard of and I suppose the shop staff hadn't heard of it either, so they didn't want a cat in the store - quite understandable. Maybe the story will bring this issue into the public eye and result in a more understanding attitude from shopkeepers.

[burlyshirley]

I think that's lovely, cat's not doing any harm. I've never seen a guide dog in a supermarket, but I'm sure they are allowed.

I agree with Bobbs about claim culture though.

[tiggerblue10]

I see loads of photos on Twitter of cats in supermarkets but I think they're not UK based judging on brands.

(Yes, I mostly follow cats on Twitter, including Larry, lol)

[jno]

that sounds like an emotional support cat rather than an assistance cat. As far as I know emotional support dogs aren't allowed in supermarkets either. Guide dogs are different, they're trained to provide a service.

[pastafreak]

Guide dogs are usually the exception to "no animals" rules...I'd imagine assistance dogs are also allowed. How can they say no based on health and hygiene if they let dogs in?
Apparently he always clears it with a shop before visiting. I suspect having pets in shops might calm a lot of people down!

[jno]

pasta, there seems to be an officially recognised difference between assistance animals and support animals. Guide dogs do provide assistance; ones that aren't trained to do so, and just calm their owner, are support animals and wouldn't be allowed in. (I've never seen one in a supermarket who wasn't a proper guide dog.)

[elliemay1]

If it's a fact that emotional support animals aren't allowed in supermarkets then he's wasting his time suing them

[webbo3]

Where does it stop tho, I've an assistance shire horse.?

[jennyjoan]

webbo - as long as you have your bucket and spade - you'll be alright LOL

[Prudie]

I couldn't give two hoots about a cat in a supermarket nor a dog but this support animal thing is getting ridiculous. Could I take a Shetland pony or how about a turkey on a lead into Tesco as long as it had hi-viz on?

[Deskdiary]

Not a shire horse...but a support horse on a plane.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/02/woman-pictured-sitting-service-horse-plane-10670918/

She'd have been better off with a support salad.

[Boto]

Assistance dogs are allowed in supermarkets, a friend has one. Supermarkets let all sorts of dirty people in so why not cats?

[jno]

you can take a support duck on a plane, it seems

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/10/20/daniel-the-emotional-support-duck-takes-his-first-plane-ride-soars-in-popularity/

[237SJ]

Jno - I don't think that's allowed anymore. I remember seeing footage of a woman who had to cart her pot belly, squealing pig off an aircraft in the US. It was funny but people will take the ***. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55177736