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A single mother and her guide dog named Hamilton are denied entry to a hair salon because the owner is “afraid” of being bitten, and could face a hefty fine.
- Guide dog refuses to enter barbershop in Sydney
- Barber claimed he was ‘afraid’ of dogs
- Refusing to enter incurs fines of up to $1,650
A Sydney hairdresser is at the center of a police investigation after it refused to let in a vision-impaired mother and her guide dog.
Marilena Osborne was taking her son for a haircut at a barbershop in Jannali, south Sydney, two weeks ago when he was refused entry.
The single mother of two has ‘very low’ vision and relies on her guide dog Hamilton to help her navigate everyday life.
Marilena Osborne, a single mother of two, was refused entry to a barbershop in Jannali, south of Sydney’s CBD, because of her guide dog (pictured)
Ms Osborne has ‘very low’ vision and relies on her guide dog Hamilton (pictured) to help her navigate her everyday life. She described Hamilton as a “calm and quiet” dog.
Ms Osborne said she was “shocked” when the groomer turned down her “calm and quiet” guide dog.
“I was deeply shocked, saddened and insulted,” Ms Osborne said. 7News.
“I felt like we were being treated like second-class citizens, I felt hurt, I felt rejected and I felt extremely upset.”
His son Lachlan said he was confused when they were turned away because his dog Hamilton is allowed ‘anywhere’.
Under the NSW Companion Animals Act, guide dog users may enter all public places with their dog on a harness.
It is an offense to deny or charge a fee for the entry of a person with their guide dog.
NSW Police officers can issue on-the-spot fines of $330 and penalty notices of up to $1,650 for refusing entry to a guide dog handler.
The barbershop owner later explained that he was “scared” and wouldn’t let Hamilton in because a customer’s dog bit him on the leg a couple of years ago.
Ms Osborne said there was ‘nothing scary’ about Hamilton, who is very calm and quiet when he’s working.
‘There is nothing scary about this dog. He has been specially trained to guide me around the place,” Ms Osborne said.
The incident is being investigated by Sutherland Police after Ms Osborne reported it to officers.
The barbershop owner said he was ‘scared’ and wouldn’t let Hamilton (Pictured, Cutz-style barbershop, Jannali) in because a customer’s dog bit him on the leg a couple of years ago.