I am a dog owner and I agree. Some people use their dogs like they are accessories.

I am an animal lover Love dogs, love cats. have owned both since I've been a kid.

Never once have I ever though it was a good idea to take my pet into any store, even pet smart. now I will go on car rides with dog, and theyhave blast, head out the window slobbering all over the place. fine. and weather permitting, if I need to stop and grab something. in and in in les than ten minutes no problem.

I about lost my shit wheni was in home depot a few weeks ago. someone had their jack russell on a leash (one of the long retractable ones) I was pushing a lumber car full of large posts and fence material. well the leash got snagged on one of the posts and now I'm dragging this dog and the woen doesn't know it until the leash gets dragged out of their hands.

They were screaming and yelling at me like I was killing their dog.

Sorry I had no idea the rope onthe leash was super thin never saw it.

But if they had been controlling their pet, IE not letting it wander across the aisle. in front of carts. It would not have happened. I could have easily run over the dogs leg, dog could have easily stepped on a nail, ect.

please leave your dogs at home when you are running errands. no one wants to have to untangle themselves from fido's leash or hear you rant when you feel slighted about being asked to leave a restaurant or bar area.

Service dogs don’t need to have a vest on.

Actually, service dogs are identified by a vest, harness (guide dogs) or in some other way. OK, actually, I knew one woman who had a hearing dog who didn't put her in a vest, but she had an orange color and leash. And you could tell the woman was deaf and her dog was trained to work in specific ways.

But honestly, too many people are taking their "emotional support" animals in public places and it's having a real effect on service dogs. A friend of mine's service dog (she's in a wheelchair) was bitten on the nose when the service dog was sitting next to the wheelchair. Dog was on an extendor leash and pulled right over, bit the dog, making the dog bleed. Another friend's guide dog was attacked as they walked down the street. This is actually common and can make the service/guide dog so afraid of other dogs that they can't work any longer and need to be retired before their time. Service/guide dogs seem submissive to regular dogs because of their training, so regular dogs can act aggressively to them.

Please, service dogs and guide dogs are able to be in public places. No other dogs are trained for that, often get stressed by it, etc. Take them into Petsmart/Petco if you must, but not into restaurants, Home Depot, grocery stores, etc. etc. Really! We don't think it's cute, and it can have a real impact on some people (asthma, allergies, or retiring a young service dog)

Service animals are NOT emotional support animal. Service animals are real, trained dogs. Emotional support animal are a scammer to allow Fido to fly for free.

It is quite obvious which dogs are truly service animals and which ones are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to add that service dogs are not required to have tags or vests. You also can't always tell legitimate service dogs from "just" pets. There are many disabilities that aren't outwardly obvious.

"Emotional comfort dogs" are not service dogs, and people with legitimate medical needs requiring a service animal know to make sure their dogs are properly identified. They are highly trained and extremely well behaved - it's absolutely outwardly obvious.

If you're bringing your dog everywhere as a security blanket, it's time to stop.

Again, there are many reasons someone might greatly benefit from having a service dog that aren't outwardly obvious. For example, PTSD, seizure detection, heart problems, etc. And people are not required to identify their service dogs in any way. Furthermore, these dogs often look like mutts from the pound because a lot of times they are -- which is a good thing! So, yes, people abuse the system. But not everyone. And you just can't always tell. Obviously if a dog is making a mess or being aggressive, it shouldn't be in a business. But otherwise you just don't know.

And again, those dogs are trained service animals. There's a difference between trained service dogs and the "emotional support animal" designation.

America has gone to the dogs

Anonymous wrote:Why are so many dog haters posting in the pets forum? Are you trolling?


My dog is a member of my family. She goes anywhere your bratty children would be expected to go.

Deal.

This is not fair. My DH is super-allergic to dogs. He has a very hard time in their presence (which is sad because we are dog-lovers). A few weeks ago, he almost had a full-blown asthma attack on a plane because Fido was across the aisle from him; I'm sure you wouldn't be so thrilled if the plane were diverted to the closest city to save his life rather than get you home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to add that service dogs are not required to have tags or vests. You also can't always tell legitimate service dogs from "just" pets. There are many disabilities that aren't outwardly obvious.

"Emotional comfort dogs" are not service dogs, and people with legitimate medical needs requiring a service animal know to make sure their dogs are properly identified. They are highly trained and extremely well behaved - it's absolutely outwardly obvious.

If you're bringing your dog everywhere as a security blanket, it's time to stop.

Again, there are many reasons someone might greatly benefit from having a service dog that aren't outwardly obvious. For example, PTSD, seizure detection, heart problems, etc. And people are not required to identify their service dogs in any way. Furthermore, these dogs often look like mutts from the pound because a lot of times they are -- which is a good thing! So, yes, people abuse the system. But not everyone. And you just can't always tell. Obviously if a dog is making a mess or being aggressive, it shouldn't be in a business. But otherwise you just don't know.

It doesn't bother me at all unless the dog is poorly behaved, and I'm not a dog owner (nor do I have any desire to become a dog owner). Why does it bother you if the dog isn't touching anything or making noise? People who go around squeezing every piece of produce before picking one (and who knows when they last washed their hands) are a lot more insanitary.

I would like to offer a different perspective on this. I have sever allergies such that being in an enclosed space with a dog causes me to have trouble breathing, an itchy tight threat and break out into hives. It's not simply a question of how well behaved your dog is, but rather dog dander is a common, air borne allergen. I diligently avoid places marketed as dog friendly, but people who take their dogs everywhere like his thread is describing makes my life really difficult. I don't feel that I should have to avoid restaurants and grocery stores but I run into dogs in these places fairly often now. Basically, the "take their dog everywhere" people described in this thread are making my life a living hell. Please, consider others before taking your dog non dog friendly places.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the owner/manager doesn’t object, tough shit.

They want to say something, but can't because you are a customer too. They are counting the seconds until you leave. They shoudln't be put in a situation where they have to say something. Your dog shouldn't be in the store unless it's a service animal.
Like the store don't have their hands already full with complaint and trying to help customers. Now they have to get in between customers with dogs and customers who don't like them in the store. Dog people are asses.
One lady let her dog finish her desert. The dog licked the plate clean and then our busser took it to the back to be washed. We have dog bowls. People's plate is not your dog bowl, unbelievable.

+1. They KNOW you are going to be a huge PITA to deal with (dead giveaway: you brought a freaking DOG into a restaurant / grocery store) and they dread having to interact with you

Anonymous wrote:If the owner/manager doesn’t object, tough shit.

They want to say something, but can't because you are a customer too. They are counting the seconds until you leave. They shoudln't be put in a situation where they have to say something. Your dog shouldn't be in the store unless it's a service animal.
Like the store don't have their hands already full with complaint and trying to help customers. Now they have to get in between customers with dogs and customers who don't like them in the store. Dog people are asses.
One lady let her dog finish her desert. The dog licked the plate clean and then our busser took it to the back to be washed. We have dog bowls. People's plate is not your dog bowl, unbelievable.

Anonymous wrote:Why are so many dog haters posting in the pets forum? Are you trolling?


My dog is a member of my family. She goes anywhere your bratty children would be expected to go.

Deal.

Hahahah holy sh*t. I seriously find it mind-blowing that there are people this pathetic out there walking the streets with the rest of us...

Yikes, lady. Yiiiiiikes. I would gently recommend you seek help