Dogs in handbag store.

[Pursegrrl]

I love animals. I just happened to be afraid of dogs, but I'm getting better at learning to be more comfortable around them. I didn't grow up with dogs as pets (just cats and some goldfish), and I had a bad experience with a dog as a child when I was about 6 or 7. A neighbor's dog jumped up on me, I'm sure just being friendly, but she knocked me flat on my back and I thought I was going to be smothered. 35 years later I will never forget how frightened I was and the fur, the panting *shivers a little.*

I have no issue with service dogs in stores, restaurants. It's the other ones that I frankly find ridiculous.

This article pretty much sums it up for me:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/perso...ot.pet.person/

Our receptionist brings her little yorkie to the office on Fridays sometimes. Like I said, I'm getting better at being more comfortable...and I don't think anyone in our office is allergic.

Just remember, no one loves your <insert pet here> as much as you do.

[sweetneet]

Originally Posted by dallas

And I'd take a well behaved child over an unruly dog any day. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but I really don't understand the need to compare the two.

i guess the point they were trying to make why some people get so upset/offended by someone bringing a quiet, well-behaved, contained (e.g. in a stroller or in a dog carrier) dog into a store, and not by someone who brings their loud and unruly children and lets them run around a store.

and some people ask why some people "feel the need" to bring their dogs to stores, as the "dog isn't going to help you pick something out", or "the dog isn't exactly enjoying going shopping". well, the same can be said for a toddler or baby, yet people still bring them to stores as well, don't they? i don't see that as a valid criticism.

the only legitimate argument that makes sense for banning dogs (and other pets) from any place is for hygiene issues (allergies, sanitary reasons, etc) or for safety issues (e.g. if the dog is mean or dangerous). other than for those reasons, i don't get why it offends people so much.

and FWIW, i don't have a dog, never have. i'm sort of a neat freak which is probably the reason why. however, if i see someone with their dog in a store, it doesn't bug me, unless its obviously smells or is barking loudly or something. i agree with Bitten, i'm all about personal freedom...

[sweetneet]

Originally Posted by floridasun8

There will always be people that complain about being afraid of dogs , allergic, whatever, but there are also people that are allergic to perfume, cigarette smoke, etc. and even some crazy phobias that some people have of simple things that can be encountered in normal outside life. It applies to everyone in the fact that if you go into a store where a dog is present, if you go into a store where someone has too much cologne on, if you go into a store where someone has offended you by their dress or appearance or whatever, or you just generally dont like something about the general public that is being permitted by whatever or whoever, you also have the right to leave. Just my 2 cents.

this is a good point. i'm currently 8 weeks pregnant and things like going shopping and traveling on airplanes are a real adventure for me right now, because just about every other smell i encounter from other people literally makes me want to gag ...the worst offenders being women who seem to douse themselves with half a bottle of perfume, or people who reek of sweat and BO. However, i don't think i have the right to ask these people to leave or change their ways because of my personal inconvenience...

[Jesskaz]

Originally Posted by Vegas Long Legs

Have allergies to dogs/cats. We just can't own them, they don't seem to bother us in small doses which is why we like to see them out. We get to interact with them! We can not sleep in a hotel room where one has slept. So if someone 'sneaks' a pet into a room (which has happened before) we end up in serious trouble. DH can detect if a house has EVER had a pet live there, its an unusual talent, lol. We had pets but grew into these allergies in our 40's like many people now. Could grow out of the allergies eventually. We hope! I really miss not having a dog.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I didn't know you could develop allergies later- I thought it was the sort of thing you are born with. That's crazy that your DH can tell if animals have ever been in a house. It must suck because you can probably never completely avoid it. I never would have thought of the hotel thing and I would NEVER sneak my dog into a hotel room...

[chuggie]

I don't have a problem with people taking small, well-behaved dogs into stores or boutiques (as long as the management/owner is ok with it). I've seen dogs in just about every high-end department stores across the country. However, I think this activity is far less common in the midwest where I live. I have small, nice dogs, but wouldn't take them shopping with me. One or two dogs at a store might not pose a problem, but herds of them would start posing a problem. Plus, I don't want to deal with my dog while I'm trying to shop. I would also feel bad about people with dog phobias or allergies. Of course, as others have said there are some kids at stores that act far worse than any dog I've ever seen, but that discussion is for another thread.

[exotikittenx]

Pets in stores = hairs, allergens, "accidents," and it may bother people who are afraid of dogs. I just think it's unsanitary. The more we can reduce this, the better. It's fine if it is for an aid to a blind or disabled person, but otherwise, there's no need to bring a pet into a store (and please don't even try comparing dogs to bringing a child into a store!). If you want to shop, leave the dog at home.

[exotikittenx]

Originally Posted by Bitten

I personally don't give a rat's clacker if I see someone with their dog in a public place. I guess I'm just one of those rare people who thinks that personal freedom (scary word for some people, I know) means exactly that.

Public parks and sidewalks, and people's homes are places for personal freedom. Shops are privately owned and people patronize them. Dogs are unpredictable creatures, too. There is no guarantee, no matter how well-trained, that they won't jump up on a person or have an accident. People should have a right to purchase merchandise that isn't affected by pet dander, etc. Animals are meant for the outdoors or in private homes, and not places of business. They are animals. Sorry, but I just totally disagree with your reasoning. I'm an animal lover myself, but I think that certain places are just not meant for animals. If you allowed dogs into shops, why not restaurants and doctors offices? Why not operating rooms? There is a reason why they're not allowed. And if you let one dog into a store, you're going to have to let them all in, and not every dog is able to behave. There's just no way of telling that, because the shop owner doesn't know the dogs.

[Couturegrl]

It doesn't bother me at all.

[dallas]

Originally Posted by sweetneet

i guess the point they were trying to make why some people get so upset/offended by someone bringing a quiet, well-behaved, contained (e.g. in a stroller or in a dog carrier) dog into a store, and not by someone who brings their loud and unruly children and lets them run around a store. and some people ask why some people "feel the need" to bring their dogs to stores, as the "dog isn't going to help you pick something out", or "the dog isn't exactly enjoying going shopping". well, the same can be said for a toddler or baby, yet people still bring them to stores as well, don't they? i don't see that as a valid criticism. the only legitimate argument that makes sense for banning dogs (and other pets) from any place is for hygiene issues (allergies, sanitary reasons, etc) or for safety issues (e.g. if the dog is mean or dangerous). other than for those reasons, i don't get why it offends people so much. and FWIW, i don't have a dog, never have. i'm sort of a neat freak which is probably the reason why. however, if i see someone with their dog in a store, it doesn't bug me, unless its obviously smells or is barking loudly or something. i agree with Bitten, i'm all about personal freedom...

I was trying to point out that in these threads, people always portray the dog in a good light - well behaved, no trouble and the child in a negative one - running around screaming etc. But if we must compare children to dogs let's make it fair, don't compare the good of one and the bad of another. Let's imagine the store that not only has unruly children in it but has aggressive dogs in it also. It would be a nightmare, a dangerous one.
My fear of allowing pets in stores is the health and safety aspect - what of the people who don't immunise their pets? Don't use flea and worm control? What of the people who have an uncontrollable Dobermann, Great Dane or heaven forbid, Pit Bull? There are owners who really shouldn't be owners and if all dogs are allowed in stores, that means the good and the bad and that's a scary thought.

[boomie]

Animals, cats and dogs, are allowed in hospitals! Not even as helper animals, but as therapy animals. I don't see the big deal of having them in stores. I mean, if anything, there should be a bigger fuss about them in hospitals (not from me, but just as an example)!

[BigPurseSue]

Originally Posted by boomie

Animals, cats and dogs, are allowed in hospitals! Not even as helper animals, but as therapy animals. I don't see the big deal of having them in stores. I mean, if anything, there should be a bigger fuss about them in hospitals (not from me, but just as an example)!

Our local medical center will not allow therapy dogs into the hospitals unless they've first been thoroughly bathed and scrubbed down with disinfectant at the nearby vet school. The dogs also have to undergo a special monthly health check at the vet school. And then the hospitals will only allow the dogs into certain areas, certain lounges, with certain types of patients.

Finally in order to be allowed into the hospital in the first place the dogs have to undergo temperment testing in a hospital environment, and show that they can follow commands amid the clatter and bang of various medical equipment and the hubbub of crowds.

[mrodriquez2006]

I think it should be left to the store...if they allow dogs, then it should be ok...if people want to bring their pets, then its ok...provided the store allows them.

I take my doggie to the stores when i go. i don't like to leave him alone and he will be lonely...the stores have always encouraged it and just fawn over him...

i also think the owner has to take responsibility. what i do is when i go into the store, i pick him up. I don't want him doing so w/o my knowing. i remember being in tiffany's once and the sales person said, "let him down so he can play" we're in Tiffany's right? I was like "no that's ok" i mean i would not want him to have an accident on their plush carpet!!! luckily he refuses to pee when we're out (he will hold it in all day until he gets home ) but again, it's up to the disgression of the store...the NM, LV, Tiffany's, Coach, and Burberry in my area all encourage it...Juicy even has dog biscuits and has put out a water bowl for him!

and it depends on the owner to keep a cautious watch and it also depends on how the dog does in public and around people

[queennadine]

I think when people compare dogs to kids regarding bringing them shopping the issue is this: most people realize if they have a dog that isn't behaved well enough for public places, while parents don't seem to have that instinct or just don't exercise the discretion.

Parents WILL take their children with them, no matter what. Who's to say that someone hasn't just gotten done whiping their child's face, cleaning up vomit, changing a diaper, etc. and then handles store merchandise?

That's much worse.

[dallas]

Originally Posted by queennadine

I think when people compare dogs to kids regarding bringing them shopping the issue is this: most people realize if they have a dog that isn't behaved well enough for public places, while parents don't seem to have that instinct or just don't exercise the discretion. Parents WILL take their children with them, no matter what. Who's to say that someone hasn't just gotten done whiping their child's face, cleaning up vomit, changing a diaper, etc. and then handles store merchandise? That's much worse.

Do they?

And who is to say that a dog owner hasn't just had their hand licked by a dog who has just used it's tongue to clean it's backside?

[queennadine]

^ I've never seen ill-mannered dogs out and about in public; I HAVE seen plenty of kids like that.

And my point about hygiene is: dogs aren't any more or less clean than children.