New Zealand: Record store fights to keep its resident 15-year-old deaf cat behind the counter after a customer complained he was 'unhygienic'

NEW ZEALAND -- A store owner was forced to defend his 15-year-old deaf cat after a customer made a complaint to authorities in an attempt to shut down the shop.

 

New Zealand-based store Vinyl Destination - which sells records, comics, toys and coffee - has been the home to Callaway the cat, the much-loved mascot to customers.

Owner Luke Wormald has spoken of his frustration at the complaint after an 'anonymous' customer called the council claiming the store was 'very unprofessional' for having a cat on its premises.

The customer claimed the 'cat was in a place where you sell food - it's disgusting'.

But Mr Wormald has since hit back in an open letter on social media, saying Callaway did not pose a risk as the store has been abiding by the rules.

'Here's a few things you might want to know...

1. Legally all Cafes are allowed to have a cat on the premises for the purpose of rodent control,' Mr Wormald said on Facebook.

'2. We don't sell food and our coffee is takeaway only, pretty hard for him to sneeze on your flat white that way.

'3. Everyone else loves Callaway.'

But despite the customer's efforts to close the store's doors, the owner said he has been bombarded with a significant amount of support from the public.

'We have tried bringing something new and exciting to Tauranga and the response has been wonderful,' Mr Wormald said.

'I'm sorry you don't feel the same way but please don't ruin it for the others who enjoy what we do.'

And to move pass the bitter dispute, Mr Wormald said the store will kindly provide the customer with a free coffee on the condition he apologises to Callaway.

'Finally just to make sure there's no animosity, you have a free coffee waiting for you anytime here,' he said.  All we ask is that you apologise to Callaway first, he's still pretty dark and his feelings have been hurt badly through this ordeal.'

After a visit from the council on Thursday, Mr Wormald said he was told that the store did not break any regulations for having Callaway at the premises.

Tauranga City Council environmental monitoring manager Andrew McMath said the store in question sells coffee and is classified under NZ food rules as National Programme Level 1, which is a 'low risk food business'.

'Low risk food businesses includes those making and selling hot drinks,' Mr McMath told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

Other low risk food businesses includes growing or packing produce, extracting and packing honey, making sugar or products like syrup, transporting or distributing food and selling pre-packaged ice cream as well as other pre-packaged food that doesn't need to be kept cold or frozen (known as shelf-stable foods).

Under the Food Act 2014, it states: Animals must not be allowed in any area used for the processing and handling of food. Pet animals may – at the discretion of the business – be allowed in customer areas provided food on display is protected from contamination.

(Daily Mail - May 13, 2016)