ANGRY dog owners say they plan to boycott a Teignbridge Garden Centre after a ban was imposed on bringing dogs into its cafe.

Jack’s Patch Otter Garden Centre in Bishopsteignton says the decision has come following an increase in ‘hygiene-related incidents’ involving dogs.

The ban comes into force on March 1.

But there has been a huge backlash from customers, many of them older and retired, furious at the new rule with almost 200 dog owners now saying they will boycott the centre.

One described the decision as ‘utter madness, what a complete shame’.

Dogs are also now banned from the large outside seating area which has always been popular with dog owners.

Another customer said: ‘The amount of people upset over this is quite surprising.

‘We have proposed they could use another door in the garden for dogs to come in and out but this has been turned down.

‘We have never seen anything other than well-behaved dogs.

‘Like-minded dog owners say they are all prepared to boycott the garden centre over the no dogs policy.

‘The feeling is their attitude towards elderly dog owners is terrible.

‘There are now more than 180 dog owners who are going to boycott otters over there no dogs allowed policy and most will be using Fermoys Garden Center in Ipplepen who we contacted and assured us that they have no problems with dogs in their dog friendly section.

‘We have also contacted Austins department store in Newton Abbot which has a dog friendly cafe and their response was the same, Devon is a dog friendly area so it makes sense to accommodate the shoppers who have dogs.’

A spokesman for Otter Jack’s Patch said: ‘Following a rise in dog-related hygiene incidents, we took the decision to no longer allow dogs in the coffee shop so we can consistently maintain the high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene our customers and staff expect.

‘It was not a decision taken lightly, but food safety has to come first.

‘Guide dogs and registered assistance dogs are, of course, always welcome in the coffee shop, and dogs remain very welcome throughout the rest of the garden centre.’

Another angry customer said: ‘Sad to see that Jacks Patch are shortly stopping dog owners taking the dogs into the small area presently set aside as dog friendly tables.

‘I have written to the manager of Otter Garden Centres to voice my concerns.’

Another said: ‘We’re the same, a walk and then lunch in the cafe, plus a few purchases on the way out .

‘We’ve been advised by the staff that dogs are not allowed in the cafe or outside seating area.

however, they are allowed in the rest of the garden centre.’

And another said: ‘If we can’t use the already small dog friendly area to take a break and have a brew while spending money there, there’s no point going.

‘We even go in there on the way back from outings just because they do allow dogs in the cafe.’