Guide dog owners face problems every week accessing public places

MORE needs to be done to make businesses and public bodies aware of the rights of guide dog owners, claims the Fédération Française des Associations Chiens guides d'aveugles (FFAC).

A study by the association found that at least once a week guide dog owners faced restrictions in public places, despite being legally able to access establishments such as restaurants, shops and public buildings.

The association used 119 guide dog owners across France, asking them to visit 1,044 services, between February 12 and 27, 2013 with some worrying findings.

In around 7% of cases problems were faced trying to access food shops and public services such as the mairie and police stations.

But access with a guide dog gets worse in other establishments and services:

• 12% of cases in a supermarket
• 15.4% of cases in a cinema
• 16.8% of cases in a theatre
• 23.9% of cases in a hotel
• 32.9% of cases in a taxi
• 40.2% of cases in a guest house

With the association set to put its findings to the disability minister Marie-Arlette Carlotti today it says more needs to be done to make people aware of the regulations.

Fines range from €150 to €450 for establishments who deny access to guide dogs and their owners.