Warning: This post may come across as ranty and negative, but it’s something that’s been on my mind for a very long time and I need to get it off my chest.
I’m tired and late getting something written, again, and I have nobody to blame for it but myself. I swear I have good intentions, but then I let the day get away from me and I end up in front of the television dozing off. All of a sudden it’s 10 o’clock and all I want to do is brush my teeth and go to bed, but I made a commitment to participate in National Blog Posting Month and I’ll be darned if I’m going down with only a few days left in November.
Today’s weather was pretty much perfect, especially for this time of year, so I’m kind of bummed we didn’t get outside at all. We did end up at Lowe’s, though, to look at Christmas trees and other decorations. As we made our way through the rest of the store it seemed like every corner we turned there was someone with a dog. How did we get here? How did we get to this place where everyone feels entitled to bring their canine buddy with them everywhere? I’m tired of it and I speak my mind, sometimes directly to the obnoxious dog owner and other times to a store employee. I love my dog, but unless we’re going to the pet store or to the veterinarian he stays at home. He doesn’t like it, but guess what? That’s not anyone else’s problem, but ours.
At this point you might be rolling your eyes and thinking I’m overreacting and you might even be thinking that one of those dogs I saw today had to be a service dog, but I can assure you none of them was and I’ll tell you why. Every one of them was pulling and tugging as their owners made their way through the aisles. Service animals do not behave that way. Service animals are calm and well-behaved and are focused on their humans and not anyone else around them because that’s their job and they take their work very seriously.
As we kept encountering dog after dog in a matter of maybe 15 minutes in the store I could feel myself getting more and more agitated, especially when I had walk way around a couple who were lurching toward all of us. Seriously? I should not have to worry about this kind of thing when I’m shopping. What especially concerns me is thinking about parents who might be shopping with small children who might come face-to-face (literally) with a dog in a place where people should not be shopping with their dogs.
The final straw came when we had had enough and decided to just go pay for what we had and leave. We were at the front of the store about to get in line at the self-checkout and there was a man there with his dog. I watched as a woman walked toward him and held out her hand while bending over to pet his dog. I heard him say his dog can be nippy, so she should be careful. WHAT?!?! So he knows his dog might bite someone and he brought it to a busy store on a Saturday. Now I was downright angry and looked at a store employee who heard the same thing as me. I asked him how it was okay for this person to be in the store with his dog and he looked at me and just shrugged. I wish I was kidding. I wonder if he’d just shrug if that dog bit the woman in the face or decided to relieve itself on the floor of the store and he was the one who had to clean it up. Mostly, though, I wonder how we became a society where people can come and go with their family pet without consequence or regard for anyone else. And I also wonder if Lowe’s cares that they’re sending a message that they value that customer more than they value my family and our comfort and safety.
Like I said earlier, I’m tired and probably a little cranky, but this kind of thing is out of hand and retailers need to do better at showing all their customers they matter.
It doesn’t bother me to see dogs out and about generally, but I was surprised to see a non-service dog come out of the restaurant I was eating in yesterday.
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Yeah, a restaurant is a whole other level of inappropriate when there’s a dog that isn’t a service animal.
I love my pets as much as anyone but I do believe there are places they do not need to at. That includes grocery stores, restaurants, and hospitals. I have literally walked out of a public place after seeing dogs in them that were not service dogs. Mainly because I am frightened of dogs I do not know. I have been bitten at a public store by a dog shopping with his owner. I feel there is a proper place for pets to shop and that’s a pet store or an outside market but not anywhere else.
It’s completely out of control and unacceptable, Rebecca. I’m so sorry you were bit while out shopping. That kind of thing should never happen.
A big part of being a pet owner is being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner. I completely agree with you!
Yes, Reesa. Exactly that!
I am much the same as you. We have a dog we love very much but she does not g on errands with us. My husband is getting a service dog for his PTSD but our policy with the former will not change. She stays home unless we are on a pet-related outing.
🙂
Traci
Exactly, Traci! And I hope your husband’s service dog provides him the support he needs to get through his days comfortably. It’s an admirable job those dogs do. 🙂
I would hope that if it was a service dog that they’d be labeled as such (which is required in our state). Otherwise yes, that’s no place for a pet!
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That’s what’s frustrating, Scott. It’s not required here AND there are laws in place that say businesses aren’t allowed to ask specific questions, so it’s up to outspoken customers (like me, I guess) to say something.
It’s like you read my mind. About dogs……in Lowe’s. I live in NJ and can I just tell you dogs are always in Lowe’s lately. I don’t understand it? I mean, I’m not a dog owner but if I was, I surely wouldn’t bring my dog to Lowe’s!
Thank you, Dawn! It’s so out of control and really not safe, especially for actual service jobs. My dog hardly goes with us in the car at all, let alone to do our shopping. Ugh
I don’t see many dogs out and about but I agree with you! The store and restaurants are generally not places for pets.
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It’s horrible where we live for some reason and it seems to be a huge problem at Home Depot and Lowe’s, but I’ve seen several people in our local department store with their pets, too. It’s out of control. 🙁
We see them a lot where we live and it’s really out of control. 🙁
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I didn’t know that hamsters has such short life spans… Your kids must’ve been quite disappointed ?
I used to have a guinea pig and later a mini rabbit. Tips and Tricks
Bringing nonservice dogs to public places like restaurants, hospitals, malls is a big NO!!!! As a rule, this should never be allowed considering the safety of the people and the place.
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I think introducing death via pets is an important life lesson for kids. That’s why hamsters make great first pets too, hard to become very attached to, great fun to play with and don’t live long naturally! Guinea pigs are great fun.
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Great article! It can be a massive responsibility for a kid to have a pet especially getting a dog. Great life lesson for kids to learn.pet food supplier singapore
Hi,Poor Cody! Glad to hear he’s doing better. We’ve been dealing with a sickly kitty & multiple vet appointments this week too, so I feel ya. There were tears in our house too. cute cat
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We have a dog we love very much but she does not g on errands with us. My husband is getting a service dog for his PTSD but our policy with the former will not change.Doggy Daycare
A frightened dog prefers to run away from the owner. Lack of training is solely responsible for the exhibition of such behavior. So, training is really essential which helps a pet to understand certain signs and sounds developed by the owner.Yorkies
Dogs can get excited and jump up. Unfortunately, this is enough to knock toddlers off their feet. Some behaviourists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that. Don’t let any of your pets climb into the baby’s crib. Pets need a bedtime routine as much as we do, so make sure they know where their own bed is.dogs for sale
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That’s why hamsters make great first pets too, hard to become very attached to, great fun to play with and don’t live long naturally! Guinea pigs are great fun.Cheap Dog Dresses
A frightened dog prefers to run away from the owner. Lack of training is solely responsible for the exhibition of such behavior.
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That’s why hamsters make great first pets too, hard to become very attached to, great fun to play with and don’t live long naturally!Bengal cats & kittens
Interesting idea, but the dog will eventually lose interest if he isn’t able to catch the hot dog once in a while. It’s the same thing with toy rope tug of war; you have to let them win sometimes.Paws Bistro
Dogs can get excited and jump up. Unfortunately, this is enough to knock toddlers off their feet. Some behaviourists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that. Don’t let any of your pets climb into the baby’s crib. Pets need a bedtime routine as much as we do, so make sure they know where their own bed is.Paws Bistro
Dogs can get excited and jump up. Unfortunately, this is enough to knock toddlers off their feet. Some behaviorists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that.Yorkie Dog Food
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Children who don’t have a ton of interaction with real animals as pets or during other activities are still taught to connect to them through different forms of entertainment. For this reason, children are naturally interested in animal companionship in one way or another.what to get someone who lost a pet
Basically Children who don’t have a ton of interaction with real animals as pets or during other activities are still taught to connect to them through different forms of entertainment. For this reason, children are naturally interested in animal companionship in one way or another.Nice Poeci
Lack of training is only liable for the exhibition of such behavior. So, training is definitely vital which helps a pet to recognize certain symptoms and sounds advanced through the proprietor.chinese shar pei mini
Dogs can get excited and bounce up. Unfortunately, that is sufficient to knock babies off their ft. Some behaviourists advise sending them for a time out on their doggy mattress if they misbehave like that. Don’t allow any of your pets climb into the toddler’s crib.dog treat pouch
Some behaviourists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that. Don’t let any of your pets climb into the baby’s crib. Dogs can get excited and jump up. Pets need a bedtime routine as much as we do, so make sure they know where their own bed is.fancy guppy
Dogs can get excited and jump up. Unfortunately, this is enough to knock toddlers off their feet. Some behaviourists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that. Don’t let any of your pets climb into the baby’s crib.Lumberjack Tree Services
Lack of training is only liable for the exhibition of such behavior. So, training is definitely vital which helps a pet to recognize certain symptoms and sounds advanced through the proprietor.Pet Bandanas
Dogs can get excited and jump up. Unfortunately, this is enough to knock toddlers off their feet. Some behaviourists suggest sending them for a time out on their doggy bed if they misbehave like that. Don’t let any of your pets climb into the baby’s crib. Pets need a bedtime routine as much as we do, so make sure they know where their own bed is.
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