This is causing so much heated argument and the way the forum is laid out, it is easy to confuse people and tie ourselves up in knots. I was guilty of this last night, but infuriated by some of the attitudes, mostly from fellow ex pupils like myself. The fact is that it is highly likely to be illegal under the Equalities Act to ban a Guide Dog from a public place, such as Blount Hall. I cannot believe the previous poster who said that eating in a side room was a privilege! I am sure Molly would like to eat in the same room as everyone else and not be singled out this way, whether or not her friends sat with her or not. I have been reading up on this case today and apparently the young person with the allergy is involved in walking a member of staff's dog on the campus? Surely this cannot be right? Also, there have been pet dogs on campus for as long as I can remember, has the young person had a reaction? His situation is dreadful, but those who slate Molly and say "life is tough" should maybe apply the same thinking to the boy in question. To go through life completely avoiding animals is impossible. There seems to be conflicting stories at every twist and turn. To end, no I'm not Molly's Mum, yes I am an ex MH pupil, no I hope I am not a "prat" as I was so charmingly called last night.

#197: Disgusted - and an ex pupil too! - Last word as we're getting nowhere :-( 

 That isn't true. He didn't go on school trips to places like Marwell zoo because of it. Sometimes people walk their dogs at lunchtime like Molly does and keep them in cars but not in school. One day  some teachers brought dogs into school cos it snowed and they had to all walk in to keep school open. He suffered an attack and no dogs have been allowed in since. He has an epipen and other things. No one has the right to say he is less needy than Molly at this time. He has a serious medical condition that the school is forced to take notice of. Some people have the same reaction to nuts and nuts are banned in a school because of it. He is a boarder so the school is his home, Molly is not. I've heard that some schools only allow sighted guides, but instead MH has tried to accomodate the dog in the best way it can. No one is saying things are easy for Molly - they're not but her mum chose to make this into a big issue. Molly is at a school that cares for her and surrounded by people that care for her but now her mum is making it hard for her to come back. The side dining room is not a place where pupils are normally allowed to eat and it is nice to eat in there with whoever you want to - I'd love to!  The dog would be comfortable in there for 20 minutes as well while Molly sat at a table and ate in the dining room if that is what she wants to do. The dog has not been banned from school. Molly has not been isolated. If she does come back I know she will be treated well by everyone but I don't think any of this discussion has helped her in anyway. I think people should just stop making comments and stop signing petitions and let her get back to a life at a school where she was probably allowed to feel more 'normal' and less disabled than she would ever have been anywhere else. She has also been able to believe that she can achieve a lot more than maybe she would have felt anywhere else and that's because of the way the school helps us.

#197: Disgusted - and an ex pupil too! - Last word as we're getting nowhere :-( 

 

I didn't use swearing word, you've got the wrong person.