Store refuses blind man’s dog entry

Basheer Claasen (40) told the Midrand Reporter that he took his guidedog Zigzag, and went grocery shopping on 7 January. “When I went into the shop I was quickly pulled aside by the manager who told me to leave my guidedog with a security guard as dogs are not allowed in the shop,” Claasen disclosed.

“I was upset and shocked. I am blind and my guidedog has a key purpose in my life. I wonder, would they insist that a person using a wheelchair leave it with a security guard?”

Claasen said he came from Cape Town to visit his girlfriend who lives in Vorna Valley. “I recently got the dog from South African Guide Association (SAGA) and everything was fine until the Spar incident. My dog is trained, it would not have swept things off the shelves. Spar apologised the next day, but more awareness of people living with disabilities is key.”

Claasen added that SAGA and he trained the guidedog on safely navigating the route from his place to the Vorna Valley Spar. Claasen said he has had an eye condition since birth and had cataracts which later led to glaucoma, a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve.

Gareth Saunders, retail operations executive for Spar South Rand said it was regrettable that Claasen was told to leave his guide dog behind.

“We apologise for the treatment he received. Our policy is that guide dogs for the visually impaired are allowed in the store. The security staff member on duty probably did not have any experience with guide dogs before.”

Gail Glover, guide dog services manager at South African Guide Association said the ignorance Spar’s security guard showed towards Claasen’s guide dog is unacceptable. “Guide dogs are not just pets. They have a job to do. People usually come up to guide dogs and pet them and try to give them treats. Please do not do so, guide dogs must focus on the task at hand. Someone depends on them to lead them to different places,” she explained.