THERAPY dogs invited to attend a town hall event for people with dementia were turned away by council staff because red tape rules say dogs aren’t allowed in the building.

The Dementia Dogs are a family of four specially-trained woolly huskies who visit care homes, nursing homes, schools and dementia support groups.

Adrian Ashworth, who owns and trains the dogs, was invited to attend the Memory Cafe at the town hall with one of his dogs called Thunder. It would have been their third visit to the special session for people with dementia, which is held in the ground floor cafe at the town hall.

But Adrian was stunned to discover Thunder was no longer welcome after a sign went up saying dog are not allowed, apart from guide dogs.

Adrian asked why but said he have not been given a reason.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle