Butt-licking is perfectly fine between consenting adults. It is not fine to unknowingly share a drinking fountain with a butt-licking stranger...unless you're into that sort of thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bN0AbS-1zo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQEG-em__94

Touche HunterG!!!!

I know people who lick other people's butts.WHat about them? Just sayin' LOL!!!! (Sorry, couldn't help myself).

Dogs lick their own butts. That right there is enough to make me not want to share a drinking fountain with them.

Yes: The drinking fountain ABC gum will have dog cooties.

Does all this mean that the free gum in public water fountains is a bad idea?

S'ok, HunterG, I'm somehow less bothered by the dog slobber than I am the human loogies and pee (I've witnessed both). Just say no to those things, people - and maybe give them up to the dogs :)

Well then, I stand corrected.

Thank you everyone.

This years 5th graders science fair experiment involved swabbing the pets and humans mouths with sterile swabs and growing the results in petri dishes of agar.

The dogs were the "losers" in that their bacteria growth was the most prolific and varied.

The concept of the "clean dog mouth" is not backed by evidence and probably originated long before experimental means were available to prove or disprove it.

The Navajo word for dog translates literally into "eats it's own shit". Enough said.

Redlack, you may be on to something. I do often enjoy the company and conversation of my 12lb Boston Terrier more than a large percentage of the people I encounter...and this has nothing to do with my own social skills. I trust her more too ;)

Even so, she will always be my "pet" and she won't be drinking out of any public drinking fountains. She also won't come into a store with me (other than Petco or the Beveridge) or sit on my lap while I drive, etc.

The news story was quite funny though, especially watching the news casters try not to laugh ;)

MB: hey, if corporations are people, why not dogs and cats? parakeets? ferrets?

if they had the right to vote, we might get a better class of people in government. mandatory play time. treats for good behavior. a swat on the nose for bad behavior. might make for awkward greetings at the UN, though.

and if our animal companions knew what we were talking about in this thread, i think we'd eventually see the return of segregated drinking fountains. ("23 pairs of chromosomes ONLY!")

but, nah. i shy away from public drinking fountains, even if they're not subject to animal companions. yes, i know that their mouths are cleaner than my $%#@&! but most animals can clean themselves - and other animals - back there, and they do so frequently. not to mention that some of them will happily ingest what others bag up and throw away. so putting my mouth anywhere near that fountain would make me queasy.

lostcoyote

LOL - my toilets are super clean too - but I don't want to eat off of them - nor do I let my dogs drink from them; although I did catch my Golden Retriever licking the rim of hubby's beer bottle when he wasn't looking......

Its a public water faucet. Not made specifically for humans to drink from. Imagine the birds that crap in it. People ARE more gross than dogs. I've seen a lot of people place their lips right up to a public water faucet to get a drink from. It just makes me wonder if they have any common sense and know how dirty a public water faucet is. I'd rather die of thirst before I drink out of any public faucet. Like GenseeHill said.. It is exactly like drinking out of a toilet or even worse. But my toilet at home is super clean and can be eaten off of and that's a fact.

some of us carry collapsible cups for our furry friends

Wow, just watched a news story explaining that using the word "pet" is becoming taboo and derogatory...apparently we should say animal companion. Seriously? I love my dog, she even sleeps with me from time to time, but give me a break...she's a PET and she drinks out of a DOG BOWL!

If your dog needs water, there is a faucet on the beach I believe. Unfortunately, common sense isn't too common ;(

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=1213870

It's a myth that dog mouths are cleaner than humans. If you notice, dogs can get gum disease just like humans and that comes from bacteria. Getting your dog some water from a drinking fountain without having them lick the spout or bowl is not rocket science. Put some in your hand and let the dog drink out of your hand, or plan ahead for your dog's need for water when you're jogging and carry water or a portable, expandable drinking cup in your pocket. And, please don't lick the spout yourself, or let your children or cats lick it either. I'm into sharing my life with pets, but not their water bowl.

Aw, Jeez, are people really THAT oblivious when it comes to common courtesy?.

"Dogs have cleaner mouths than humans do."

Yeah, and you can get pregnant from swimming with boys; your eyes will stick that way if you cross them; sitting too close to the TV will make you go blind; the microwave is eating your brain...

Don't believe everything you've ever heard. You've never seen what my dog will eat.

Y'know dogs have cleaner mouths than humans do. And what do you have against dogs drinking water? Would you rather the pup not have any?

It never ceases to amaze me what people will complain about.

"You can have a communal drinking space with your pets, you can both drink out of the toilet together for all I care." - Let's be honest. If you're using a fountain in a busy public park, you're probably already drinking out of a toilet. Yuck.

Too bad you don't have a photo...you could post it on the dog blog someone started awhile back!

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and am fairly neutral/practical when the 'dog' postings get going...however, this behavior is over the top.

Would the water fountain dog's owner please stand up and claim your behavior?

GROSS!!

It's not funny--certainly not appropriate, and I still laughed outloud! Wow!

On May 9th, 10:00ish am in Lincoln Park I went for a drink of water by the North Playground after my run. A curly long blonde haired women a little faster than I (note-did not cut me off) went for some water as well... So I thought...She instead placed here little dog at the spout... I was shocked, you know the type of shock that makes you ask yourself "did I just see that (blank) happen". She then turns to me and asks "oh you wanted water", I respond with a shrug, a look of disbelief and dash of stink eye. She in return could not understand what was wrong stating "she did not lick" referring to the bowl/spout at that point her friends Great Dane did lick the whole nine yards of it.

Please use better judgement. Do what you want at home, You can have a communal drinking space with your pets, you can both drink out of the toilet together for all I care. Actually it makes me feel better to think that that is what you do :)

Thank you for your time.