Three pet dogs in Trader Joe’s this morning

[Anonymous]

I have a dog and love well behaved dogs, but I can’t believe anyone thinks a dog that isn’t a trained service animal (or at least in training to become one) should be allowed in a grocery store. Mine is a pandemic dog and hasn’t spent much time alone, so he has some separation anxiety, but I’d still never consider this. I sure hope these were small dogs confined to shopping carts because I’ve never been in a TJ’s that had room for two carts to pass each other with a dog in between them.

[Anonymous]

I love seeing dogs out and about, even at the stores. I don't think it is unsanitary if they walk into the grocery but I know it bothers some people enough that I would never do it. People should have respect for the mental health of others and if they want to feel at peace grocery shopping, they should. The presence of a dog in those environments will really cause them an immense amount of frustration that you cannot just blow off. Why be haughty about it? I know it's hard to separate but you are just shifting your distress onto someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of narcissist bring their pet dog to a grocery store??!

A service animal must be trained to perform specific tasks to aid someone. “therapy” and “emotional support” dogs are nothing more than pets.

Stop bringing your pet animals to grocery stores. It’s so gross and selfish.

How do you know it was a "pet" or an "emotional support dog" and not a service animal?

Not the OP, NP, but: Just freaking stop your "but but but how do you knooooww" idiocy.

A service animal is trained at great length and expense, behaves a certain way in public (namely, not like a pet), wears a vest (not a faked one bought off the internet) and often is not on a regular leash but has a type of handle-like lead.

A service dog is NOT going to be riding in a shopping cart or in a stroller or in a baby Bjorn pack or walking on a common leash. And certainly a service dog is not going to be cradled in mommy or daddy's arms while they shop.

You know all this but want to pretend that any dog, any place, might be a service animal so, how dare anyone question the dog's presence! No. Anyone with a grain of common sense knows when they're seeing a pet and not a trained service dog.

To the OP and others who understand that pet dogs have no place in grocery stores: Complain every single time, both at the store itself and by email to the store's corporate headquarters.

To the dog nuts: Take your pet to walk around Home Depot. Seriously. Home Depot allows pet dogs. Go there to show off Fido.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think dog owners all miss a critical gene that allows them to have common courtesy towards others. I don't see it with any other type of pet owner. We all MUST love your dog, even if they are AH and even if we are allergic.

Sounds like you need a therapy pooch, OP! Hugs!

Don't need your hugs. Just keep your dog way from me.

Also, not OP. A lot of us feel this way. And my post above was directed at you exactly.

[Anonymous]

I only take my dog into PetSmart.

[Anonymous]

Trader Joe’s can have early hours for dog shoppers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love seeing dogs out and about, even at the stores. I don't think it is unsanitary if they walk into the grocery but I know it bothers some people enough that I would never do it. People should have respect for the mental health of others and if they want to feel at peace grocery shopping, they should. The presence of a dog in those environments will really cause them an immense amount of frustration that you cannot just blow off. Why be haughty about it? I know it's hard to separate but you are just shifting your distress onto someone else.

Thank you for this measured and reasonable post. I disagree with you on the sanitary aspect but I also totally respect that YOU show such respect for those who have issues with dogs in public places. I wish those who insist their dogs belong everywhere had your empathy for those for whom dogs in certain settings create stress that some dog owners refuse to acknowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love seeing dogs out and about, even at the stores. I don't think it is unsanitary if they walk into the grocery but I know it bothers some people enough that I would never do it. People should have respect for the mental health of others and if they want to feel at peace grocery shopping, they should. The presence of a dog in those environments will really cause them an immense amount of frustration that you cannot just blow off. Why be haughty about it? I know it's hard to separate but you are just shifting your distress onto someone else.

Exactly, so leave your dogs at home. If going grocery shopping brings you anxiety, you can order EVERYTHING delivered these days. There is zero logical reason why a dog is allowed, but not someone's pet snake, or rat, or cat, or bird, or peacock, or whatever.

Unless your animal is needed to help you with a specifically medically trained task, then it is not allowed at home. Jesus, why are so many dog owners so selfish these days? I agree with a pp, you don't see this level of self absorption with any other pet owner. It's bewildering.

[Anonymous]

I love my dog but I've never taken her anywhere she isn't allowed. It bugs me when I plan around my dog and take extra trips/spend extra time so that she's not with me when she's not supposed to be, and then I'm at the grocery store and some lady is wandering around with her dog. Rule flauters piss me off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs are cleaner than some people. Bet they didn’t steal anything either. MYOB

yeah, they lick their anuses and then lick the fruit.

No thanks.

lick the fruit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trader Joe’s can have early hours for dog shoppers.

Uh, no. It's a food store not a park! And there are signs on the doors that say "service animals only."

[Anonymous]

Who cares?! Mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think dog owners all miss a critical gene that allows them to have common courtesy towards others. I don't see it with any other type of pet owner. We all MUST love your dog, even if they are AH and even if we are allergic.

No, all dog owners are not like that and I am specifically speaking for one I know very well (as well many others) and that would be myself. But you are clearly a dog "hater" and it shows, probably hate kids too, that's a you problem. With respect to the grocery store, etc. dog problem, Europe has arrived on our shores. I know so many people who come back from Europe and bring their disgusting habits with them. I have a neighbor who not only is building a greek goddess statuary in his side yard (last trip was to Greece) he also let's his dog poop everywhere but his own yard. Bonus he does not clean any of it up and when approached by his neighbors he says it's natural and no one should have to clean it up.

[Anonymous]

Video tape it and put it on social media.

Unless you hurt a company where it hurts, they will not change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares?! Mind your own business.

No, and I am not Op. Your dog does not belong in food environments. IT IS THE LAW. And I do not care how small Fifi is I will make you as uncomfortable as possible every single time you bring an animal where I food shop. Every single time.