Blind mother's fury after she was kicked out of Foot Locker because 'guide dogs aren't allowed in'

  • Angela Armin was with her guide dog when she was kicked out a shop
  • The 45 year old cannot see and was walking with her guide dog Unis
  • But a staff member at the store in Romford told her she had to leave
  • Foot Locker apologised to the mother with a letter - but she couldn't read it

By Abe Hawken For Mailonline

Published: 13:23 GMT, 21 May 2016 | Updated: 14:55 GMT, 21 May 2016

A blind mother-of-three was kicked out of a popular high street shop because she was with her guide dog.

Angela Armin, who suffers from a degenerative eye condition, was told to leave the Foot Locker store in Romford, Essex, because a worker said dogs were not allowed in the shop.

The 45 year old was shopping with her four-year-old guide dog, her husband Simon and their children when a staff member approached her and told her to get out.

Foot Locker then apologised to her by sending her a letter - but she couldn't read it as she has been unable to see for the past six years. 

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Angela Armin was kicked out of the Foot Locker store in Romford because she was with her guide dog

Angela Armin was kicked out of the Foot Locker store in Romford because she was with her guide dog

She was shaking and on the verge of tears when she tried to explain to the employee that Unis was a guide dog but was told that it was the store's policy.

Mrs Armin, who is mother to James, 18, Alex, 16, and Nathan 11, said: 'The shop assistant came over and said that I need to leave because dogs are not allowed in the store.

'I said 'this is a guide dog, do you not understand?' But she just was not interested.

'My husband then went to speak to the manager of the store and he said that no guide dogs were allowed as it was store policy.

'We were planning on spending £200 on shoes because my sons' birthdays are coming up.

'I felt sick and I wanted to cry. I just wanted to break down - it is like trauma.

Angela Armin with her guide dog Unis. Angela, who is blind, was asked to leave the Foot Locker store in the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford due to her guide dog not being allowed inside

Angela Armin with her guide dog Unis. Angela, who is blind, was asked to leave the Foot Locker store in the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford due to her guide dog not being allowed inside

Angela Armin with her husband Simon Armin. The 45-year-old was shopping with the dog, her husband and children, when a staff member approached her and told her she had to leave 

Angela Armin with her husband Simon Armin. The 45-year-old was shopping with the dog, her husband and children, when a staff member approached her and told her she had to leave 

'You would not tell somebody in a wheelchair that they must leave their wheelchair outside so why is it different for guide dogs?

'My heart was racing. I did not know if I should be angry or cry.

'You're trying to fight your corner and people just bring you down. It is awful.'

In 2006 Angela developed Uveitis, a condition which slowly destroys the middle layer of her eye as it swells gradually and in 2010 she was told she would go completely blind.

She was terrified to leave her home alone until she got Labradoodle Unis three years ago who gave her the confidence to leave the house unaccompanied.

Mrs Armin, from Romford, Essex, said: 'Unis gave me the confidence to go out on my own.

'I have been in other stores with Unis before, but this store surprised me.

'I was scared to leave my home until I got Unis.

'I got so angry to the point where I could cry.

'My confidence has been knocked. It was like someone had punched me in the stomach. I wanted the ground to swallow me up.'

On Wednesday, Foot Locker sent a letter of apology to Angela but she is concerned that staff are not being trained properly, leading to more blind people being victimized.

She added: 'My main concern is the training of staff.

'It is lovely that they have apologised but the training needs to be addressed - this could happen again.'

Mrs Armin, from Romford, Essex, said: 'I got so angry to the point where I could cry. My confidence has been knocked'

Mrs Armin, from Romford, Essex, said: 'I got so angry to the point where I could cry. My confidence has been knocked'

Mrs Armin said she was subjected to further abuse when the company apologised to her - by sending her a letter as she can't see

Mrs Armin said she was subjected to further abuse when the company apologised to her - by sending her a letter as she can't see

The American footwear company apologised fully to their customer, and made a £1,000 donation to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

But Angela thinks Foot Locker are throwing money at the issue hoping the problem of their badly trained staff will go away.

She added: 'They seem to be hoping the problem will go away by throwing money at it.

'Until I am reassured that Foot Locker's problem has been resolved I will not be shopping with them again.   

Mrs Armin said she was subjected to further abuse when the company apologised to her - by sending her a letter.

She said: 'They needed to pick the phone up and apologise to me directly. I am blind, I can't read the letter of apology that they sent me.

'The manager of the store should be on the phone to me apologising. That hasn't been done.'

'They say they are going to be training their staff but I haven't seen any evidence of this.'

Foot Locker said they had taken steps to train staff, but did not comment on the letter of apology sent to Angela.

A spokesperson said: 'Foot Locker regrets Mrs Armin's experience in our Romford store.

'Not welcoming her and her guide dog was contrary to our policy and we have taken prompt steps to re-educate our staff across the country.

'On top of that, we have apologised to her and made a meaningful contribution to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.'