Lashawn, a white Labrador, is a guide dog trained specifically to help the visually impaired. — Picture by Azinuddin Ghazali

PETALING JAYA, July 31 — Stevens Chan and his guide dog Lashawn were given friendly treatment by Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall during a recent visit.

Chan, who is visually impaired, cited it as a “breakthrough” for a shopping mall to allow a guide dog inside.

He received the chance to visit after he was introduced to the mall staff.

“Someone introduced me to a friend who is a senior member of the staff there,” he said.

“I was told I could go to the shopping mall with Lashawn.

“I just needed to inform them when I will be going.”

Chan said he informed the shopping mall management before his visit.

“I wanted to go because I had never been there before,” he said.

When he arrived, the concierge accompanied him and Lashawn while they walked around the mall.

“They (the concierge staff) gave directions to Lashawn to guide me around the mall by telling him which way to go,” he said.

Chan said the visit lasted about an hour.

He hoped that if he and Lashawn were to visit the mall next time, they could walk around by themselves.

Sunway Pyramid senior marketing manager Loo Hoey Theen said the mall had guidelines for blind people with guide dogs.

“When they enter our mall, the concierge staff will approach them to offer assistance,” she said.

She said the mall allowed guide dogs into its compound but the owners must adhere to its standard operating procedure (SOP).

“We will first ask the owner if he or she wants to leave the dog outside,” she said.

“If so, our security personnel will look after the dog.

“However, if the owner requests that the dog remains at his or her side, our concierge staff and security personnel will escort them around.”

Loo said this was to avoid people from coming up to the dog and disturbing it.

“This SOP applies to anyone who has a guide dog,” she said.

On May 24, Malay Mail accompanied Chan and Lashawn on a “test” visit to Capital Mall Asia at The Mines.

However, security officers escorted Chan and Lashwan out of the mall and said no animals were allowed inside without a permit.

When Chan tried to catch a taxi home, several taxi drivers refused to take him and Lashawn because they insisted animals were not allowed in their vehicles.