A photo of a cat sitting in a shopping trolley at an Aldi store has divided shoppers, with some people furious the animal was allowed inside a place where food is sold.
A shopper recently snapped the photo of the feline at an Aldi store at Jerrabomberra in Canberra’s south-west.
The customer took to the ‘Aldi Fans in ‘ Facebook page last week to upload a picture of the unusual sight.
‘Here is something that is rare to see in an Aldi store,’ the woman wrote.
‘It is the first time I have ever seen an assistance cat anywhere in public.’
A photo of an assistance cat (pictured) that was spotted at an Aldi store has divided shoppers
The picture shows the cat sitting inside the baby seat part of a trolley while wearing green harness around its neck.
While some users who commented on the post thought the addition of the animal to the shopping cart was cute, others slammed the move as ‘unhygienic’.
‘So anyone can buy a harness for an animal and call it an assistance pet and take it anywhere. Ridiculous,’ one user wrote.
‘Yuck! Assistance or not. I don’t believe animals should be allowed in our trolleys where we put our food,’ another person said.
‘How unhygienic to have a cat in a food supermarket.’
Others pointed out they are allergic to cats and said the animal posed a health hazard.
‘My kids would be in trouble if they sat there after this cat! They have severe allergies,’ one woman said.
Others said people should have more respect for those who need an assistance animal to help with their disability.
Aldi declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail , however a spokesperson said the company’s policy on animals is guided by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
The Act states a creature is considered an assistance animal if it is ‘trained to assist a person with a disability’.
Aldi (stock image of a store) said their policy around assistance animals is guided by the Disability Discrimination Act
The animal must also be accredited as trained to assist people living with disabilities under a law of a state or territory.
The animal must ‘meet the standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.’
Assistance animals provide people living with disabilities help in conducting everyday tasks.
Assistance animals are used by a range of people who have physical and cognitive disabilities.
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