35-year-old visually impaired counsellor Cassandra Chiu has been a figure of controversy of late following the latest case in a long line of grievances she encountered with her Labrador guide dog Esme — and as of today, Chiu is no longer an ambassador at the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind (GDAB).
Last week, Chiu took to the Esme the Guide Dog Facebook page (where she writes from the perspective of the dog and refers to herself as 'Mama'; yes it's kinda weird) recounted an experience she had when she tried to enter a Zara store at Takshimaya Shopping Centre.
She alleges that the store's security guard aggressively turned her and her dog away, and even raised his voice and used abusive language. In her typically persistent manner, she held her ground and demanded to speak with the store manager and even made a police report. RSH Limited — Singapore's distribution and retail arm for the Zara chain — has apologised to Chiu and it is believed that the security guard in subject has been transferred somewhere else.
However, eyewitnesses of the incident are telling a different tale — Chiu and her male companion were the ones who turned aggressive at first, even calling the initially polite security guard a dog. The unidentified male companion then started shoving the security personnel, which drove him to raise his voice — but not once did the guard laid a finger on the man.
As many would know, this is not the first time that Chiu has raised a ruckus about the accessibility afforded to her and her guide dog. In similar manner, she took to Esme's Facebook page and complained about not being allowed into a crowded McDonald's restaurant, not being allowed into a Haagen Daz eatery at Holland Village and not being allowed into a Forever 21 store.
With such track record for controversy, many have piped up that Chiu may just be an attention-seeker, and will go through great lengths to get what she wants.
With that much negative publicity trailing behind her, it would come no surprise that Chiu has resigned from her part-time position as the GDAB's clients services manager. She and a former member Andrew Chew Hew Jeow (the male companion possibly?) are no longer authorized to represent or speak on behalf of the board, according to a report by The New Paper.
Was she asked to resign? Maybe. But one thing's for sure — the adventures of Chiu and Esme continue and the lady will surely have yet another incident to rant about in the future.
Photo: Esme The Guide Dog Facebook page
35-year-old visually impaired counsellor Cassandra Chiu has been a figure of controversy of late following the latest case in a long line of grievances she encountered with her Labrador guide dog Esme — and as of today, Chiu is no longer an ambassador at the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind (GDAB).
Last week, Chiu took to the Esme the Guide Dog Facebook page (where she writes from the perspective of the dog and refers to herself as 'Mama'; yes it's kinda weird) recounted an experience she had when she tried to enter a Zara store at Takshimaya Shopping Centre.
She alleges that the store's security guard aggressively turned her and her dog away, and even raised his voice and used abusive language. In her typically persistent manner, she held her ground and demanded to speak with the store manager and even made a police report. RSH Limited — Singapore's distribution and retail arm for the Zara chain — has apologised to Chiu and it is believed that the security guard in subject has been transferred somewhere else.
However, eyewitnesses of the incident are telling a different tale — Chiu and her male companion were the ones who turned aggressive at first, even calling the initially polite security guard a dog. The unidentified male companion then started shoving the security personnel, which drove him to raise his voice — but not once did the guard laid a finger on the man.
As many would know, this is not the first time that Chiu has raised a ruckus about the accessibility afforded to her and her guide dog. In similar manner, she took to Esme's Facebook page and complained about not being allowed into a crowded McDonald's restaurant, not being allowed into a Haagen Daz eatery at Holland Village and not being allowed into a Forever 21 store.
With such track record for controversy, many have piped up that Chiu may just be an attention-seeker, and will go through great lengths to get what she wants.
With that much negative publicity trailing behind her, it would come no surprise that Chiu has resigned from her part-time position as the GDAB's clients services manager. She and a former member Andrew Chew Hew Jeow (the male companion possibly?) are no longer authorized to represent or speak on behalf of the board, according to a report by The New Paper.
Was she asked to resign? Maybe. But one thing's for sure — the adventures of Chiu and Esme continue and the lady will surely have yet another incident to rant about in the future.
Photo: Esme The Guide Dog Facebook page