Paralympic swimmer Sophie Soon recently found herself in an uncomfortable situation when she attempted to dine at a café in Hougang with her guide dog
Paralympic swimmer Sophie Soon recently found herself in an uncomfortable situation when she attempted to dine at a café in Hougang with her guide dog, but was told by a staff member that the dog wasn’t allowed inside. Soon, who uses the guide dog due to her visual impairment, shared the incident in a TikTok video on March 8, hoping to raise awareness about guide dog accessibility.
In the video, a staff member, after consulting her supervisor, informed Soon and her mother that they could dine at the restaurant but would need to sit outside with the dog. Soon’s mother objected, repeatedly asking, “Why are you discriminating against guide dogs?” and requested to speak to the supervisor directly. Soon added in her caption, “How many times does this happen to us before we can be treated like any other customer?”
In a follow-up video, Soon expressed her frustration, stating that incidents like these happen far too often and that businesses should be more educated about guide dog regulations. She emphasized the importance of training staff on how to interact with guide dog users.
Rocky Master, the café in question, responded on Instagram, clarifying that while they don’t discriminate against customers, they must also consider other diners who might feel uncomfortable around dogs. They added that their staff was cautious and followed protocol by checking with management.
The incident sparked a debate online. Some netizens criticized Soon’s actions, saying her treatment of the staff was harsh, while others defended her, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and proper staff training about guide dog laws.
Under Singapore’s Environmental Public Health regulations, food establishments are permitted to allow guide dogs as long as they are properly restrained and controlled.
This isn’t the first time Soon has encountered issues with her guide dog. In previous incidents, she was stopped from entering a concert and faced complaints from other commuters while using public transport.
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