Dogs in Stores???

[Decaf]

I am wary of dogs (all size)...I only feel comfortable if the dog is on a tight leash. A free running dog cause huge anxiety for me even though I have never been bitten by any dog.

[torontogal12]

I think dogs are cute and I would love one. But I can't have one because I am so allergic to pets. Every time I visit SIL's house I itch for DAYS (not exaggerating). I have to take clothes off as soon as we walk in the door and throw them straight into washing machine lest dander fly around the apartment. Others can be afraid (I know adults who are afraid of dogs).

People are only allowed to bring service animals into stores. Call the health inspector.

I once had a guy threaten me because his huge dog on the bus jumped on ME and I made a face (I didn't even say anything to deserve it, but I got repayed for minding my own business by having dander all over me the rest of the day). People need to remember that it is their dog and not the general public's dog so people don't have to appreciate as much as they do. I don't think it is kind to the pet to bring them around everywhere. I know I wouldn't have fun being confined to a purse/cart.

[Shwa Girl]

I love dogs and have two. The only store I take them to is pet store i.e. Petsmart. I did take my little one to work with me but I do have my own office and my work allows it. Studies have shown dogs can provide a calm and relax environment and can increase productivity in workers. However, I understand there's a small % of the population that is still terrify of dogs for many reasons i.e. was traumatized when they were little. It is encouraged that workers speak up with they have issue with my dog and I'd be completely ok with stop taking her to work. I have not taken my dog to work in a year because I go to too many meetings/travelling and cannot leave her alone in the office - would not be fair to her. We still have a worker bringing her dog to work and everyone loves him. Some of our local hospitals have a pet therapy program where certified pets are allowed to visit patients. In these cases, the dogs are happy as well as the owners and the people they visit.

I agree:
dogs in pet stores = yes
dogs trained to work in hospital programs = yes
dogs as part of a workplace program = yes
dogs with lettuce and tomatoes (grocery store) = no

[Lyssia510]

Or people with cats that let them jump up on tables and walk through food...yuck!
I visited a friend with a few cats. One of them jumped on a side table that contained chips and salsa. The cat licked the chips, walked over the salsa (who knows what dander fell in), and the friend kept eating the chips like it was totally normal. Needless to say, I never ate anything at their house and stopped visiting altogether.
Pets are pets, treat them as such.

That's so gross! I almost gagged just reading that!

[d.ot]

^^ lol, sorry @Lyssia510 , that wasn't my intention
Puppies, rainbows, unicorns and all sorts of pretty shiny things...is that better?

[anastasia1009]

Before I left Ontario I went to Fortinos - two women pushing a little strollers - it was all blinged out and fancy. Then heard a bark and another bark - turns out two little dogs in the stroller. I guess someone ran to manager and in the meat section he asked both of them to leave. English wasn't there first language and didn't understand that dogs in strollers weren't allowed. They were escorted to leave and as I was walking around it I could hear some people freaking out. Dogs don't belong in a grocery stores unless service dog because what if there are fleas or it poos or pees when nervous. Plus people like me are allergic to dogs. I have cats - one cat is a dog - goes for walks, loves drives but I would never take him out.

[Ciel]

While I am aware of workplaces that allow dogs in as part of employee perks, I hope I find out before I ever have to go inside of a place with dogs. It's one thing to see a dog outdoors and have options about keeping away, reading its body language (if it seems calm and not wanting to lunge at me, I may relax a little but lunging and running have me at alert) and deciding to flee or to proceed with caution past it. It's a mind-wrecking problem to be indoors with someone's dog at large-NO THANK YOU! In one bank, someone with a lively young Lab that was nervous/active and sporting a green back cover about being a service dog in training (I did not believe it) at the next teller's cage had me watching it because the handler did not keep dog on short lead so the dog moved too much for my comfort on the relaxed leash length while handler had a chat with another person (not the bank teller).

One local pharmacy had a sign about no dogs allowed inside except service dogs because some senior customers had a lap pooch held in one spouse's arms while the other one shopped.
Many stores have the decals on their doors about no dogs except service dogs. The customers with dog strollers had quite the nerve to bring their pets inside the grocery store. I know there are residents near that Fortino's who may have problems communicating in English but it makes me wonder if they went through the mall with the strollers or if they came in from the parking lot outside of Fortino's. I am glad that most grocery chains have a wet wipe or towel/sanitizer area near the carts indoors so customers can wipe down handles/seats/cart as a precaution against whatever was left behind.

It's a sad fact that not everyone can read store signs and stickers. Literacy matters and so does awareness of public health rules.
I'd be a mess if I ever had to work a public outdoor market and the customers with dogs on long leads stopped near food items...

[r0c0upons]

I was in Roots yesterday and someone was carrying a dog... and a staff member said someone had brought in a giant breed that morning. she mentioned that the store was 'dog friendy'!

[redhdlois]

My issue is that when people blatantly ignore the city by-laws.......some stores have now gotten to the point where they have to post the by-law on the entrance door at eye level....yet people still think the rules don't apply to them ?????

[nainai0585]

I HATE any animal, who is not a service animal, in any store where it is clearly marked 'No Pets Allowed'.
I also can't stand it when I do see a service dog, and parents are allowing their child(ren) to run up and touch the dog. Why can't some parents/care givers teach their children that those dogs are working and cannot be touched unless given permission by the owner first.
Another thing that bugs the h**l out of me is seeing dogs running loose on school playgrounds when children are on the playground - either leaving school or entering - and then freak out on children who bulldoze into the dog because they don't see it or are expecting to have a loose animal on the playground. I watched this happen while waiting for my son after school and there are about 2 different adults who do this.

[wolfwoman]

Or people with cats that let them jump up on tables and walk through food...yuck!
I visited a friend with a few cats. One of them jumped on a side table that contained chips and salsa. The cat licked the chips, walked over the salsa (who knows what dander fell in), and the friend kept eating the chips like it was totally normal. Needless to say, I never ate anything at their house and stopped visiting altogether.
Pets are pets, treat them as such.

My fur babies ARE my children and they are a heck of a lot cleaner than SOME other people's 2 legged darlings. My kids can drink out of my cup, have a bite of my sandwich, have ice cream off my spoon etc.
I would take them grocery shopping if I could. They are more well behaved than screaming kids that have drove me out of stores.
Thank goodness for disinfecting wipes, I have seen drooling, snotty DIAPER LEAKING nastiness happening in carts.

[Shwa Girl]

I would take them grocery shopping if I could. They are more well behaved than screaming kids that have drove me out of stores.
[/QUOTE]
Would you take them in the store or leave them in the car?
If inside the store, how would they react to the intercom, cash register sounds, other shoppers, music, screaming children (you mentioned)?
Thx.

[wolfwoman]

They would go in the store with me. I would never EVER leave my babies in my vehicle! Would you leave a 2- legged child alone in a vehicle?

[couponingtosurvive]

I love dogs. I dislike this issue and encounter it quite often. This is just my little vent so take it for what it is. Whether it is someone with their dog in a store or whether it is someone thinking their dog off leash in a public space running free up to whomever may be out at the time. Both are not ok in my book. Society today seems to think dogs are people. They are not. They are an important part in many families lives, but to me that is where it should stop. Just because you love your pet as much as a human child doesn't mean the person standing beside you does or should. It is not fair to expect others to feel how you do about your pet. In private, in/on your property you make the rules, but in society bylaws are put in place and should be followed. Like I said earlier, I love dogs. However, I don't like dogs running onto my property or jumping up on me. I also don't like dogs in stores. Please leave them home. Rant over.

[Decaf]

I don't hate dogs/cats. I think I would own one if I am not a little scared of them. Other than the reasons mentioned above about not allowing dog instore...another one I can think of is sometimes I am focusing on browsing the isle and turn around and find a dog right beside me I would freak out a little. If I see people walking their dog on the street I have an option to walk across the street or keep a bit of distance (if the dog look aggressive on long leash). My sister screamed when she almost step on a dog at Home Depot. Owner and us were both distracted with our shopping so she almost didn't see the dog the floor right next to her.