Seven Kirklees taxi firms turn down fare from stranded motorist because of his dogA STRANDED motorist was left fuming when seven taxi firms refused to pick him up – because he had a dog.
James Taylor, 33, was taking his mother Kath, a Kirklees councillor, to work in Crosland Hill on Sunday when the clutch went on his car.
James, of Mirfield, also had family pet Henry, a pure-bred shih tzu, with him.
Kath, a Tory councillor for Mirfield, was only a mile or so from work so decided to walk.
But James, Henry and the Ford Fiesta were stranded nine miles from home.
Clr Taylor’s colleagues at Lowdhams Leisure caravan firm, rescued them, managing to limp the stricken car to their premises in second gear.
Clr Taylor then rang seven local taxi firms but all refused to take Henry.
James, a Mirfield town councillor himself, said: “My mum got a list of local taxi firms off the internet and rang them.
“They were all happy to take me to Mirfield until she mentioned Henry. Then they all refused. It’s outrageous.”
Getting the bus would have meant a three-hour trip and several changes so bosses at Lowdham offered to let Henry stay with receptionist Clr Taylor while James got a £17 taxi on his own.
The taxi firms didn’t offer any kind of explanation as to why dogs were banned and James decided to investigate.
He found regulations for hackney carriage and private hire drivers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 which say that cabbies should not refuse to take dogs without a “reasonable” excuse.
The Act says: “Guide dogs, all assistant dogs and all domestic pets, adequately restrained and controlled, other than dangerous wild animals as defined in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, must be carried in the vehicle unless there is a reasonable excuse for not carrying the animal (s). Each animal to be accompanied by a keeper.”
Read more: Examiner
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