A WOMAN who was left ‘embarrassed’ after reportedly being turned away from a Kendal charity shop for having her four-legged friend in tow is putting together a list of dog-friendly businesses in the town.

Pandy Grenville-Evans, of Kendal, said her dog Alfie, a three-and-a-half-year-old Africanis, suffered panic attacks if he was left outside on his own.

“He shakes and shivers and curls up into a little ball,” she said.

Mrs Grenville-Evans, 60, a former dog handler, runs The Kitten and the Goat (which incorporates The Posh Dog Clothing Company) along New Shambles in Kendal, selling knitwear, homemade dog products and home-baked dog treats.

She said it was “absolutely fine” for a shop not to accept dogs but clear signs should be in place saying whether places were dog-friendly or not.

“In Kendal it’s completely different,” she added. “You wouldn’t expect to go to a big city and take your dog with you. But we are a farm-based rural community.

“Everybody’s got two or three dogs in tow.”

And now Mrs Grenville-Evans is putting together a list of all the dog-friendly businesses in Kendal - information which, even if it exists, she feels is not well-enough advertised. The list could include anything from retail outlets to estate agents.

One of her reasons for doing this, she says, is that she was turned away from Age UK on Finkle Street, Kendal, for taking Alfie in with her.

She now avoids a shop or business if it does not have a sign outside.

“I wouldn’t go," she said. "I’d go where I can take the dog. It’s embarrassing being thrown out."

Chris Moss, co-director of Ye Olde Fleece Inn on Highgate, Kendal, said whether or not shops were dog-friendly was something “probably not advertised enough.”

“It’s all about welcoming people, welcoming guests,” he said.

Indeed, Ye Olde Fleece has a ‘doggy station’ where dogs can have a drink and a dog biscuit, with Mr Moss adding the pub was looking at offering a ‘dog menu’ in future.

Pam Lewis, deputy chief executive officer of Age UK South Lakeland, said she was ‘surprised’ by Mrs Grenville-Evans’ claims that she was turned away from the Finkle Street shop.

Although the shop does have a small sign on the front saying ‘no dogs except guide dogs’, Ms Lewis added: “It sounds to me like there has been a misunderstanding if this lady has got a view that she was turned away because she has a dog. We have no problem with customers coming into the shop and bringing their dogs.”

Email theposhdogclothingcompany@gmail.com to contribute to Mrs Grenville Evans’ list.