An autistic man takes Sainsbury’s to court for refusing to let his assistance cat take him to the shops.
Ian Fenn, from London, said his inability to shop with his feline Chloe limits his ability to live an independent life, reports the BBC.
Mr Fenn, a designer and writer, said it helps him stay calm while in noisy public spaces and has been to places such as trains, buses, pubs and a hospital.
However, Sainsbury’s argues that cats pose a risk to food hygiene, unlike assistance dogs who do not.
Mr Fenn said he had to leave Chloe out when he visited a Sainsbury’s in Clapham, south London. He said the experience meant he stayed home two weeks later.
He now plans to take the supermarket giant to court for violating the 2010 Equality Act, which stipulates that business owners must make reasonable adjustments so that people with disabilities are not severely disadvantaged.
“I have a sensory overload in busy environments and I tend to shut down, but with Chloe I can focus on her,” Fenn told the BBC.
“She brings structure to my life, she wakes me up in the morning, she tells me when I have to go to bed. It’s hard to know how she feels about the relationship, but I feel like we’re a team now.”
If Mr Fenn successfully argues that assistance cats are a reasonable auxiliary aid for clients with disabilities and the refusal of entry to assistance cats is contrary to the Equality Act of 2010, this could establish a legal precedent.
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “We want to be an inclusive retailer where people like to work and shop and understand that some of our colleagues and customers may need support in our stores. At the same time, security is our top priority and our colleagues are trained to balance the maintenance of our high standards of food hygiene with the support of all our customers who shop with us.
“We are in contact with the local Environmental Health team to see if there are any ways to help Mr Fenn visit our store without compromising.”