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Labrador Hanni is a trained assistance dog. She doesn't care about the sausage counter - she concentrates solely on her master
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REWE Dortmund
Helpers on 4paws
by Wenke Rose

They are lifesavers on four paws: Trained assistance dogs enable their owners to lead a largely normal everyday life - even though they often suffer from life-threatening illnesses.

Dogs in the supermarket? Actually a no-go, as high hygiene standards prevail in the food trade. Assistance dogs are an exception. And they are always welcome at the Dortmund REWE shop assistant Lukas Sanecki.

Lukas Sanecki is a committed supporter of Thorsten Habel. The ambassador and patron of the access campaign is committed to raising awareness of assistance dogs and ensuring that their owners have easy access to all public facilities. The access campaign itself was launched by the Pfotenpiloten with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

"Assistance dogs make it easier for people with disabilities to lead a more normal life," explains Thorsten Habel. "They are used for allergies, dementia, depression, trauma, diabetes and epilepsy. Very few people know that."

Thorsten Habel with REWE salesman Lukas Sanecki (right) and dog Hanni

Thorsten Habel knows what he is talking about, because he himself is dependent on his assistance dog Hanni, as he suffers from anaphylaxis, sudden allergy shocks with life-threatening breathing difficulties. "Not all assistance dogs can be recognised as such at first glance," reports the 44-year-old. However, unlike guide dogs, Hanni does not wear a harness, so she looks like a normal four-legged friend. Only at second glance does it become clear that Hanni wears an "identification blanket" when she is on duty. This causes confusion for retailers and other customers alike.

When REWE retailer Sanecki learnt about Habel's access campaign a few years ago, he invited the dog and her owner to his store. Recently, he also supported Thorsten Habel at the "Dortmund assistance dog-friendly" event at the Dorint Hotel An den Westfalenhallen. Sanecki's entire team is now delighted when Habel and Hanni drop by. In addition to Lukas Sanecki, many other REWE Dortmund retailers support the Pfotenpiloten campaign. The "Assistance dogs welcome" stickers are clearly visible in the entrance area of the stores. "REWE really has been an exemplary supporter from the very beginning," praises Habel. "We are knocking down open doors here and are experiencing great commitment from the retailers. A prime example of accessibility and inclusion!"

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Michaela Klingenhöfer
3 years and 1 month ago

Hello, I think it's a really great thing, I hope that more markets will join in after this article. Perhaps you could have mentioned in the report that if a dog is wearing a lead harness or identification blanket, it is on duty and should therefore not be stroked. Very few people realise this

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