Norwich: Abuse from dog owner in Lawson Road pharmacy in NR3

Mary Adams, who lives near Mousehold Health, was queuing for her prescription at Boots in Lawson Road on Friday lunchtime when she noticed the Staffordshire bull terrier breed roaming freely around the shop.

The 55-year-old, who has a dog herself, called Magnus, said: "It wasn't an assistance dog as it didn't have any marking on its jacket.

"I've had a lot of bad experiences with this type of dog before and they scare me.

The off-the-lead dog was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Staffie (Image: Newsquest)

"My dogs have been attacked many times by the breed - off the lead - and I've even been assaulted by an owner when I've had to save my dog from being attacked.

"I don't mind dogs that are on a lead, at all, but being inside a public place I think there's a reasonable expectation for them to be on a leash.

"Because of my traumatising experiences, I politely asked the owner if they could put a lead on the dog.

"He refused, so I asked the staff if they could speak to him and was ignored, before the owner stared at me and began to hurl verbal abuse my way."

Ms Adams has put in a complaint with Boots due to the "triggering" outburst and moved to a different pharmacy.

She added: "The manager of the pharmacy apologised to me and said the dog had been allowed to wander around inside before.

"It's unfair on people who may not be comfortable around dogs or for actual assistance dogs that are working who could be distracted, or worse, attacked by an off-the-lead dog.

"I just think owners need to take other people into consideration when out in public as you just don't know what others might have been through."

Boots Pharmacy, in Lawson Road, NR3 (Image: Google Maps)