Autistic man in court to have cats treated like guide dogs
CATS could be treated like guide dogs after an autistic man launched a legal case against Sainsbury’s.
Ian Fenn, 51, from London, said his inability to shop at Sainsbury’s with his assistance cat Chloe is limiting his ability to live an independent life.
Mr Fenn was told to leave Chloe outside when he entered Sainsbury’s in Clapham, south London, in March.
Sainsbury’s argued that cats present a risk to food hygiene, unlike dogs. It has asked its environmental health team to find a solution.
Mr Fenn plans to take Sainsbury’s to court for breaching the Equality Act 2010, which says business owners must make reasonable adjustments so people with disabilities are not substantially disadvantaged.
Certified assistance animals can enter any area the public can use, but there are exceptions if there is a risk to public health, such as food preparation areas or some parts of hospitals.
Mr Fenn said after the distressing experience he stayed at home for two weeks. He told the BBC: “I get sensory overload in busy environments and tend to shut down, but with Chloe I can focus on her.”
Chris Fry, a leading disability rights lawyer representing Mr Fenn, told the BBC that while guide dogs are seen as a “reasonable or an auxiliary aid to help disabled customers”, there is no specific guidance in relation to other animals.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We want to be an inclusive retailer... At the same time, safety is our highest priority and our colleagues are trained to balance maintaining our high food hygiene standards with supporting all our customers who shop with us.
“We are in contact with the local environmental health team to see if there are ways we can help Mr Fenn to visit our store without compromising this.”