Häagen-Dazs Singapore suffers from major public relations disaster

After lady with guide dog posted on Facebook about being denied entry at Holland Village branch last evening.

Belmont Lay| September 09, 06:47 AM

After lady with guide dog posted on Facebook about being denied entry at Holland Village branch last evening.

Update Sept. 9, 2013, 3.50 p.m.: Häagen-Dazs Singapore has issued an apology in the comments section of one of their Facebook posts. (See end of report for apology.)

Häagen-Dazs Singapore is having a lot to deal with on a Monday.

Esme the guide dog -- who belongs to Cassandra Chiu, a visually-impaired lady, has taken to Facebook to complain about an unpleasant experience at Häagen-Dazs' Holland Village outlet last evening.

Long story short: The Häagen-Dazs manager at the Holland Village branch insisted that "no pets" are allowed even though guide dogs have been excluded from the no pets policy.

The law states that the "licensee of a food establishment or private market may permit any guide dog accompanying a blind or visually impaired person to be brought into the dining or refreshment area or any toilet of the licensed premises".

Indignation

Hundreds of Facebook users -- feeling righteous indignation on behalf of the guide dog and its visually impaired owner -- are taking turns to write on the Häagen-Dazs Singapore Facebook page to express their discontent.

Many have threatened to boycott the store:

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While there are others who are more polite, are demanding a response from the ice cream chain's management:

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And still others who are letting off some steam:

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The worst thing about this whole incident?

Häagen-Dazs Singapore's public relations team is still asleep. Not a single word has been said to quell the crowd -- 19 hours after the first of two complaint post went up.

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Häagen-Dazs Singapore's apology on Facebook:

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Top photo from Esme the Guide Dog

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