A DOG lover slammed the anti-dog ethos of Britain's big businesses after a 15-minute row with a petrol station attendant over letting his dog into the shop.

PR consultant Jonathan Edwards, 37, of Perth Road, Stroud Green, said he had to call local police before his three-and-a-half-year-old Jack Russell, called Brutus, was allowed into the Shell garage in Park Road, Crouch End.

Even then, the attendant would only let him through if Mr Edwards carried Brutus in, despite there being no sign banning dogs.

He said: "I had to pass my phone through to the garage attendant to get the police operator to get him to allow me to pick my dog up and carry it through to pay for my petrol. I was there for 15 minutes!

"It just seemed absolutely ridiculous. As a responsible dog owner I never take my dog anywhere that has a sign saying 'No dogs allowed'. I had the issue once on the M6 and ended up in a row and I always check for 'No dogs' signs now."

Mr Edwards tried complaining to Shell but gave up after 15 minutes on hold to customer services. He said he has suffered similar situations at Starbucks in Crouch End, and Abbey National in Seven Sisters Road.

"We are supposed to be a nation of dog lovers and I live partly in France," he said, "and there you can take your dog into Michelin-starred restaurants. You can take them anywhere; every café, every bank.

"You can go shopping in the main department stores in Manhattan and every third person will have a little dog with them.

"My experience of living in London for three years is one of frustration - before you can even make a simple journey you have to pick up your phone!"

A spokeswoman for Shell said: "Shell UK Retail does not allow dogs, other than registered assistance dogs, within the shops attached to its forecourts, for reasons of hygiene.

"The shops sell convenience retail goods, including fresh food, and the company adheres to the same hygiene rules as other food retailers, such as supermarkets, who do not allow dogs on site either.

"Most of our sites either already have 'no dogs, except assistance dogs' notices. Sites without this notice will receive them shortly.

Source: Hornsey Jornal