Update on allergy to animals and public places

[Omeba]

Hi everyone,

A belated Happy New Year.

Just thought I'd give you all an update on my attempts to get asthma exacerbated by allergies to animals recognised under section D of the Equality Act 2010.

I made a complaint to GWR about dogs on trains last year. They failed to deliver so I've taken my request for a reasonable adjustment under the Act to Transport Focus. I'm requesting a change in policy so that only one carriage per train is available for dogs and the remainder free of animal dander. I've also extended this request to include all public transport. Currently, train operators are obliged to carry animals. I don't know when this policy began. I can remember a time when pets could only travel in the guard's van.

Obviously assistance dogs are permitted to travel on public transport, but they're in the minority. However, I'm arguing that one disability shouldn't trump another.

To date, my request was initially rejected on the basis that allergies aren't covered by the Equality Act. I reminded them of nut and seed allergy. They also told me that restricting pets would be impossible to enforce !!?? So, I reminded them of the period when there were smoking and non smoking compartments. If someone lit a cigarette on a train now I have no doubt it would be enforced.

It's a slow and frustrating process, but I'm prepared to take this matter the Department of Transport if it's not taken seriously.

If anyone wants to add their voice to this I'd be extremely grateful. They're more likely to take heed if I'm not viewed as an isolated case.

The most accessible information about the Equality Act is on the CAB website. Asthma is definitely covered as it can have a detrimental effect on the ability to carry out every day tasks etc.

The Transport Focus website has a portal through which you can raise the issue.

If any of you are willing to make a request for a reasonable adjustment under section D of the Act but don't know where to start etc. I'm happy to help.

I'll let you know if I'm successful in my endeavours.

Wish me luck...

[MMBJI]

Hooray! Well done, if I had the energy I’d love to do what you’re doing.

Please feel free to add my situation as an example.

I have acute dander allergies too and life is becoming increasingly restricted as more and more places welcome animals.

Since November my asthma has been out of control. 2 attacks, constantly short of breath and unable to do much at all.

Currently any outings into public spaces are meaning repeated use of salbutamol. Suspect dander is an issue, alongside perfumes, air fresheners etc.

I am considering taking my children out of school. I suspect that dander is transferring from the houses of staff and other pupils into school. Obviously this is very difficult for us to manage.

Socially it is very isolating, my children can’t have friends over or visit their friends houses if they have pets.

One of the worst aspects is when people don’t believe me and think I am making a fuss or being odd!

Thankyou so much for taking the action that you are.

[Omeba in reply to MMBJI]

Hi MMBJI, thanks so much for replying and sharing your experience.

I can really empathise. There are only a handful of cafes where I live which don't allow dogs. My life is also very restricted by this ridiculous dog world mentality. There are many shops which are dog friendly so I'm forced to do most of my shopping online.

I've also been on the receiving end of people not believing me. It must be horrendous for you to have to consider taking your children out of school.

I hope your asthma begins to settle very soon. It's so debilitating, isn't it?

Thanks for your words of encouragement.

If I'm unsuccessful with my request for a reasonable adjustment. I'm planning to contact the department of transport. If that happens I would be very grateful if I could cite your experiences as well as my own. If i do, I'll let you know. Obviously, I shall protect your anonymity.

Take care 🙂

[strongmouse in reply to MMBJI]

I agree that allergies should be consider under disability legislation, i.e, making reasonable adjustments. Some people though also have allergies to dust mite. My son managed to get the Occupational Health department to consult with his line manager to ensure the ventilation system was properly maintained and to remove and old unneccesary carpet. He is also now able to work from home most days. He has just started some desensitisating drops for dust allergies and is not starting on some for moulds.

My problem which severely restricts my going out is that I react to several chemicals especially perfumes. I use a personal ioniser which does seem to help as long as someone is standing next to me covered in strong perfume, after shave or 'smelly' clothes! Unfortunately the current government doesn't seem to take clean air as a necessity of life.

For anyone interested Canada has good guidelines on work space as perfume -free places.

[hilary39]

I think this is so great and you should keep at it!! Asthma is considered a disability in many countries and covered accordingly. Could that be a good angle? You might reach out to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America as they do a lot of advocacy and may have some ideas for you-

I'm in France so I can't help much with UK advocacy sadly.

Good luck! Keep us posted on your endeavors!!

aafa.org/

[Omeba in reply to hilary39]

Thanks for your message Hilary. Unfortunately, asthma doesn't seem to be automatically recognised in the UK as the disability it is. I have been fighting this policy under section D of the Equality Act. Hence trying to force them to recognise the devastating consequences for me from contact with animals. In my last post I wrote that I was asking for a reasonable adjustment. This is the language necessary to challenge organisations under the Act. I've been putting up with this situation for a long time and I've had enough. I believe unless people challenge nothing will change.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. It's really great to know other people are behind me.

[hilary39 in reply to Omeba]

What kinds of steps would you want them to take? Off the top of my head some things I've thought about for the states:

1) hospitality

-asking pet-friendly hotels to keep certain rooms and even floors completely pet-free

-asking pet-friendly bars and restaurants to put a sticker or sign in the window that says they allow pets so people with allergies know that before going in

-advocacy work letting restaurants, bars, cafes, shops etc. know that pet allergies are very very common and can be deadly for children and adults (also explaining mechanism of allergies, that we are allergic to a protein in the dander, not fur)

2) restricting animals on airplanes to guide dogs (though this seems to be less of an issue in Europe, in the states there are now dogs on pretty much every flight, it's scary)

What else are you pushing for?

Keep up the good work!! Activism is often lonely and hard at first!

[Omeba in reply to hilary39]

Hi, I don't live in the States. I live in the UK.

Re my request for a reasonable adjustment on public transport, I'm asking that there should only be one carriage per train which allows dogs.

Re your suggestions

I don't think having different floors which are animal free would work because of cross contamination. But I would like to see a filter on search engines for allergies. If you want to search for a hotel it has a pet friendly filter, but nothing for those of us who can't be in an animal dander environment.

Where I live most places have a dogs welcome sign. I have to ask the ones which don't. If they ban dogs they always say "I'm sorry we don't " to which I reply "Don't be sorry this is music to my ears ". It would help if this information was available online. I often have to phone beforehand to ask.

I hope I don't sound as though I'm dismissing your good suggestions. I'm not meaning to. I agree with you that more information and public awareness is needed.

I contacted my MP about this problem. He was as much help as a chocolate teaspoon. I've also raised this with my local councillors, but they've been equally unhelpful.

I have another reasonable adjustment request ongoing with an organisation, but I don't to jinx that by mentioning it. If I succeed I'll post it on this forum.

Thanks for your message 🙂

[hilary39 in reply to Omeba]

Great ideas about the filter for pet-free hotels (and I'd like to see that on Airbnb, too). Also pet-specific (and pet-free) train cars. That's a big issue in France.

So glad you're doing this--I wish you much luck and hopefully you'll get the ear of someone eventually who can help you make a difference in the broader community.

[Omeba in reply to hilary39]

Thanks hilary39. I suppose I feel I don't have anything to lose by pursuing this apart from a lot of time and energy. I've put up with it for years, but the dog population is increasing and more people seem to feel it's their right to take their pets wherever they go. Organisations are pandering to this. At one time it would have been unthinkable for someone to take a dog into a cafe etc. It's the limits it's imposing on my life which finally made me adamant to challenge it. It's obvious that I'm not the only one adversely affected.

I agree that fillers should be on every appropriate search engine. It's a nightmare trying to find a hotel etc which is animal free.

Thanks for words of encouragement. I just hope others may feel prompted to follow my efforts. The more dissenting voices the better the chances are to change things.

I'm sorry to hear that things are no better in France.

Good luck with your own personal struggles. 🙂

[CHCollins in reply to hilary39]

For those who have just found this thread, you might find the site petfreehotels.com useful -- it is a selection of pet-free hotels in the U.S. based on the hotel's published pet policy.

[hilary39 in reply to CHCollins]

Awesome thank you for sharing!