Magnus, who lives in Haverdal in Halland, has been visually impaired for five years. Nevertheless, the leader Tesla is not always welcome. When Magnus was about to get vaccinated against TBE, two-year-old Tesla was stopped from accompanying him to the vaccination clinic.
– I couldn’t leave him out because he is so precious to me. Then I’ll have to find other ways, I thought.
Magnus says that Tesla means a lot to him in everyday life.
– He shows me the way. I get much more freedom of movement and can live a more active life.
“Happens often”
It is not the first time that Magnus has been stopped from taking his guide dog with him. It often happens that he is not allowed into shops, restaurants and other premises.
– It’s damn embarrassing and difficult that I can’t get in and everyone else gets in. It’s a sad situation, he says.
It has prevented Magnus from planning spontaneous activities.
– It will be very difficult, or there will be none at all.
Got “tired” of arguing
It is often ignorance that causes this problem, according to Magnus. Many do not know the difference between a private dog and a service dog, he explains. A service dog is usually allowed to stay on the premises.
– It could be an employee who has a bad idea and doesn’t know the difference who denies one, he says.
Magnus has previously argued for his case but is now tired of having to do so. Instead, he has chosen to remove places where he and Testa are not welcome.
– Maybe it’s wrong, but that’s who I am.
The Discrimination Ombudsman, DO, has demanded compensation from three different companies that rejected people with guide and assistance dogs, the authority writes on its website.
Something that Sweden’s Ledarhundförare (SLHF) sees as a “step in the right direction”.
– There have been hundreds of reports to DO that have simply been dismissed. So it’s very positive, says Åsa Engman, who is chairman of Sweden’s Ledarhundförare.
– We have known for a long time that the situation for guide dog handlers is unacceptable.
Every second guide dog handler has been refused entry at some point, and for every fourth guide dog handler it happens at least once a month, according to statistics from Sweden’s Guide Dog Handlers.
When TV4 Nyheterna talks to Magnus, he still hasn’t been vaccinated. But he is convinced that there are vaccination clinics where he and Tesla are welcome.
– I guess I’ll have to get a hold of it, he says.