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A disabled woman was told to "get her f******g dog off a bus" by a passenger who said it couldn't be a guide dog 'because it was black'.

Megan Taylor said she was on her first bus journey with her disability assistance and guide dog Rowley, when the woman approached her.

The 22-year-old, who suffers from 'episodic blindness' - claims the woman shouted "why is there a f****** dog on the bus? Get it off".

However when Megan tried to "politely explain" it was an assistance dog she claims the woman called her a liar because "guide dogs are yellow Labradors and your dog is black".

Megan, from St Helens, said: "I tried to explain to her that guide and assistance dogs can been any colour and don't have to be Labradors, although Rowley is. She told me I was wrong. ️

"I decided at this point there was nothing I could say to educate this woman and that it wasn't worth my time.

"I instead chose to ignore her while she continued to talk nonsense."

Megan suffered a serious head injury when she was 15-years-old which left her with a catalogue of medical problems, including 'episodic blindness' - which causes temporary loss of sight.

She added: "I suffered multiple fractures to my skull in the incident which left me with multiple disabilities and medical conditions including hearing loss, impaired balance, frequent fainting attacks, vertigo, and episodic blindness.

"I can temporarily lose my sight without warning at any time, which is truly terrifying.

"Even when I can see I become so dizzy and disoriented when walking that I bump into obstacles and trip over things."

Megan said she the incident on January 7, is not the first time she has been abused in public and is now "anxious" to use public transport.

She said: "I don't think I've ever had a stress free trip on public transport, that's why I'm so nervous when using it now.

"Due to my poor balance and unpredictable fainting attacks it isn't safe for me to stand on the bus or train, but on many occasions I have asked to sit in the priority seats only to be told no, because I don't 'look disabled'.

"Even after I have shown people my medical alert card and pointed to my Assistance Dog I have been laughed at and told no.

"On other occasions I have been spat at, stepped over, pushed out of the way and accused of being 'another drunk youth' when losing consciousness due to my heart condition and neurological disorder."

Rowley, who is Megan's second assistance dog - after her first dog Ruby was forced into retirement after being attacked - helps her with many daily tasks.

The two-year-old pup will help Megan retrieve dropped items, empty the washing machine, get undressed and untie her shoes and even phone for help, when she loses consciousness.

Taking the opportunity to educate people on what guide and assistance dogs are, Megan added: "Ruby and Rowley have given me so much.

"They enable me to be independent, they give me confidence, and they keep me safe. They're my everything.

"People should know assistance dogs come in many shapes and sizes and are trained to support people with a range of disabilities.

"They aren't just for the blind.

"Just like a wheelchair, walking stick, or pair of glasses, they are important and vital auxiliary aids and as such are legally permitted to accompany their disabled owner in all public places."

She added: "Thanks to the confidence Rowley has given me I was able to stay calm when the woman started shouting at me.

"I try to stay positive and not let incidents such as what happened get me down because I am not ashamed of my disability.

"Despite having so many negative experiences, I know that these people are the minority.

"Most people are good and kind."