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Assistance dog refused entry to store

Krystal Jose is reluctant to venture to Perth again, after she was refused entry to a jewellery store with her assistance dog, Rex. Picture: Arran Morton

A Karnup woman who relies on an assistance dog says she was left humiliated when a jewellery store in Perth refused her entry and called the police.

Krystal Jose, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety, said staff at Hardy Brothers in the Hay Street Mall locked the store's doors when she and two friends attempted to enter the store earlier this month.

The 22-year-old said staff ignored her pleas to allow her to shop for a Mother's Day gift with German shepherd Rex, who was wearing a vest identifying him as a registered assistance dog.

She said she had braved the city for the first time in many years, thanks to the confidence she had found with the help of Rex, who completed his training five months ago.

"We pressed the button to get into the shop but staff just looked and ignored us," Miss Jose said.

"My friend Michael asked why they wouldn't let us in but a male member of staff shook his head and said 'you're not taking that into the shop', and walked away."

WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Allan Macdonald said to refuse access to a guide or assistance dog as defined under the Dogs Act 1976 in WA could be discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

He said to deny a customer the right to enter a business premises with a guide or assistance dog was not only unlawful, it was bad service.

Miss Jose said her friends, Michael Salisbury and Bonnie Atkinson, attempted to explain to staff why the trio had Rex with them and offered to produce registration papers.

She said staff contacted police and she and her friends waited for more than an hour for officers to arrive, so they could explain what had happened.

"The staff were inside laughing at us when the police arrived - the police went in to speak to them and when they came out, one of the officers was very upset," Miss Jose said. "They just wanted to make sure we were OK to go home. I just felt so embarrassed and stupid."

Miss Jose said she was contacted by Hardy Brothers' head office in Brisbane which refused to offer an apology, claiming the incident was just a misunderstanding. Hardy Brothers refused to comment when asked about the incident.