Unless You're Blind, Your Dog Does Not Belong at a Grocery Store (stores, buy)

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Whilst shopping at Trader Joe's this afternoon, I saw somebody who was clearly not blind (no pun intended) and not experiencing PTSD, with a "service dog", shopping in the store.

Why do you hate dogs so much??

Dogs are beautiful creatures and if someone feels safer with thier service dog,so be it!!!!!


Im frankly surprised however they would let a dog in if someone was able to see......

[TKO]

My long held belief that dogs are better people than people has been substantiated once again.

On a serious note, it always amazes me as a person who has had brain surgery and has a brain disease (MS), how some people think they can get the measure of a man with just a glance at the grocery store.

[NJDevil]

I'd rather see dogs than screaming, running, crying children ANY DAY.

[Delahanty]

Originally Posted by Cinema Cat

I agree. The concept of an "emotional support animal" is completely bogus. A lie.

Dog owners are a selfish brats. I see them violating the law all the time. In Santa Monica, dogs are supposed to be kept on leashes at all times, yet they violate this law. And the cops do nothing.

I see these selfish brats bring their dogs into Vons and Whole Foods and Starbucks. Usually these dogs are little "toy dogs," more a kind of rat-dog.

If you're so emotionally crippled that you need a little rat-dog with you at all times, then you belong in a straight jacket. People that emotionally/mentally crippled should not be let loose on the streets.

And if you're not that emotionally crippled, then the dog is a lie. You're just a selfish brat (usually a woman) who WANTS what she WANTS, and so you buy a bogus vest and badge, or get some therapist to lie for you.

Unfortunately, the dog owners lobby is powerful. They pressure legislators to pass laws allowing them to bring their rat-dogs onto planes and into stores.

What in the world?

[moved]

Originally Posted by NJDevil

I'd rather see dogs than screaming, running, crying children ANY DAY.

Totally agree!

[Mr.Hospitality]

Originally Posted by TKO

My long held belief that dogs are better people than people has been substantiated once again.

On a serious note, it always amazes me as a person who has had brain surgery and has a brain disease (MS), how some people think they can get the measure of a man with just a glance at the grocery store.

Love this sign from a hotel:

[skelaki]

lOVE THE SIGN. I remember one like it in a hotel we stayed in in CA years ago.

I know this is an old post and I might have missed something but I didn't see anyone point out that it is not just the blind that need service dogs (LEGITMATE ones, not emotional support animals) and not just large to medium breeds that can be service animals.

A few examples of legitimate service dogs: For the deaf, seizure alert, blood sugar alert (for diabetics), heart alert (for someone with a serious heart condition), etc.

"
Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of “assistance animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “service animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act.
Some State and local laws also define service animal more broadly than the ADA does. Information about such laws can be obtained from the State attorney general’s office" Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals

[Crazee Cat Lady]

I use to work in a store, and was told not to let anyone in with dogs unless they were service animals, because it was against state health code rules and the Health department could fine stores if they allowed pets (because we sold food).
I love animals so it was sometimes hard...but rules are rules I suppose, and I can kind of see their point.

[DanielAvery]

but rules are rules I suppose, and I can kind of see their point

I think this was the point of the original post. Indeed, grocery stores, like any other place making and selling food, are obligated to do so in a clean environment, and the health department will (and has) shut down places for violations involving dogs (and a few other pets, but mostly dogs) in close proximity to food prep areas. It's not about "hating" dogs. I find it hilarious when someone chimes in with "how could you hate dogs so much?" or some-such, because it's not about loving or hating--it's about observing the LAWS. Those who want to bring their pet into such a restricted space ought to be asked "Why do you hate our business so much?", because they're putting the managers in an untenable position between a rock (the law) and a hard place (customer service).


A restaurant manager-friend of mine typically will ask if it's a service animal, and if the owner says yes, they will then ask out of curiosity what service it performs (which is much more diplomatic than "Well, what's wrong with you?" ). This allows everyone the opportunity to observe whether this 'service' is actually being performed if it is needed to be performed. It also gives the more flagrant violators a chance to dig the hole a bit deeper, because they typically don't have a rehearsed answer for that one. I actually mentioned this thread to him a while back and he agreed that it's an epidemic of "selfishness" on the part of owners and very, VERY few people in our area really have a service animal that they need to have at their side 24/7.

[StAcKhOuSe]

Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz

In Seattle, dogs are treated with nearly equal rights as people. I'd rather a lovable dog be in a Trader Joes than an annoying, crying human brat child.

+1


came here to say this