Pub bans drinker over his 3 ferrets
A FORMER soldier has been banned from his local pub after customers complained about the smell of his three ferrets.
Tim Pender, 57, regularly went to the Old Coastguard in Mousehole, Cornwall, dining with his pets Joy, Grace and Jason in a bag, on his lap or on a lead.
Mr Pender, who makes stained glass for a living, claims he needs them with him when he leaves the house because he is agoraphobic and is a victim of discrimination.
‘They have never caused a problem that I have known of,’ he said. ‘To be barred is very upsetting.’ However, pub general manager Louis Vanhinsbergh said Mr Pender had not been barred over the ferrets but because he was rude to staff in front of customers during an ‘outrageous’ outburst last week.
He had earlier asked Mr Pender ‘in a sympathetic manner’ to stop bringing his pets.
‘I didn’t tell him how many people had complained as I knew it would upset him. We had been receiving complaints for months – people were asking to move table and some were not willing to eat here because of the pungent smell of the ferrets. They also escaped in the garden, which is a health and hygiene issue. Plus, we allow dogs, and ferrets and dogs don’t get along.’
But Mr Pender said: ‘Louis followed me outside and told me not to come back with my ferrets any more. I felt physically sick. They are my companions. Lots of people are delighted by them – they are very intelligent and affectionate creatures. They are as good as gold. They love music.’
He now takes his ferrets to the King’s Arms in the neighbouring village of Paul.