Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › NON-Service Dogs in grocery stores and restaurants
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
October 31, 2015 at 7:01 pm #828588
mark47nParticipantThis is a very interesting conversation and so acrimonious! Now to add my own bit of bile…
I’ve been a dog owner for most of my life. Before moving to Seattle and acquiring my current pair of unruly labs I lived in cities where the term “off leash area” was unheard of. I lived in houses and apartments, not always with a yard, and walked my dogs regularly on a leash. I won’t say that I never flouted the law, and do periodically so my labs can get some time in the water (though never at Alki), but I will own it. I’m am the guy who lets his dogs on the furniture, sleeps with my dogs on the bed, when my wife isn’t around and I feed my dogs bits when I’m cooking (before you staunch dog lovers freak out, it’s bits of cheese or pieces of apple or carrot). That said, my dogs are my dogs, not my equals and, as such, don’t have the same rights. They don’t have the right to free speech, they don’t enjoy 2nd amendment rights or a right to a free public education.
While, to some degree, I like having a few pubs where my pooch is welcome, I look askance at folks who suffer separation anxiety when grocery shopping, at the hardware store, etc.
Dog owners are hardly underserved. you don’t have a right to own a dog, you don’t have a right to inflict your unruly and sometimes aggressive dogs on me or mine and the idea of demanding infrastructure so your old buddy old pal can run free is preposterous. For the record, as an avid hiker and backpacker, I hate dogs on the trail and in wilderness areas, too. I’ve been attacked (he’s really very nice) by dogs on trails more often than anywhere else and feel lucky to have escaped in one piece, given some of the more precipitous trails in the area, and guess what, those dogs weren’t on leashes either.
So, the moral of the story is shut up, put your dog on their leash, for THEIR protection, and act like an adult rather than a spoiled, self-centered and frequently passive-aggressive, child, Seattle!
October 31, 2015 at 7:10 pm #828589
wakefloodParticipantThus endeth the lesson.
October 31, 2015 at 7:19 pm #828590
JoBParticipantGreystreet..
who is shaming dog owners?
There are a whole lot of us who respect the laws and take responsibility for our pets..
i personally think the people who choose to abuse the laws because they can get away with it are the ones putting dog owners to shame.
October 31, 2015 at 7:21 pm #828591
JoBParticipantmark47n
i think i love you.
your closing line is pretty much what i want to say every time these subjects come up.
October 31, 2015 at 7:24 pm #828592
herongrrrlParticipantI was in a store in White Center last week, and someone came in with a small off-leash dog. I would not have noticed except that I heard a commotion and looked over to see a woman practically having a panic attack–she was scared of the dog. The dog’s owner just said, “It’s OK, she’s friendly!” which did nothing to allay the scared woman’s fear. The store management did nothing to intervene.
The thing is, some people are genuinely terrified by dogs, for a variety of reasons. And some people have severe allergic reactions as well–it doesn’t matter how friendly or well behaved your dog is, in either case. It should be a reasonable expectation that you could go to a grocery store or restaurant without having to worry about having a phobia or allergy attack triggered by something that should not be present in that environment.
October 31, 2015 at 9:36 pm #828593
JanSParticipantmark47n…as another poster commented…:high five:
October 31, 2015 at 10:32 pm #828594
SniperKittyParticipantAmen Mark47n! Herrongrrrl too! Dogs owners are not entitled to anything special just because they chose to take on the responsibility of owning a dog as a pet. Our society has decided that it would be safest for people, other pets, wildlife, and nature areas for dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash. I don’t have a phobia of dogs, but I do get nervous when a big off-leash dog comes running up to me or my kid. You may think your dog is friendly, but all I see is an animal running up to us that might pose a threat. It makes me clutch the pepper spray in my pocket a little tighter when I see them rushing up to me. I’ve heard of cases of so-called friendly dogs getting spooked by something and attacking a kid. Keep them on a leash.
I know a guy in his 60’s that was attacked by a dog at 9 years old and he is still very afraid of dogs. I agree with Herrongrrrl that more dog owners should think about the fact that many people do not want to have contact with dogs in stores or the workplace for a variety of reasons. Just assuming that everyone loves your dog is a pretty selfish assumption to make.
Lastly, my kid just stepped in dog poo at a play field yesterday and accidentally smeared it on the car seat. That makes the third time in one week that I’ve had to clean dog crap off of some shoes! Is it really that hard to clean up after your pet?!
November 9, 2015 at 3:59 pm #828595
SueYParticipantWell, I’m happy to find out that I’m not the only one who is annoyed by the recent wave (I’ve noticed it in the last 2 years) of non-service dogs in grocery stores and restaurants. But now, my question is, what can be done about it? I’m at a disadvantage because I don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account (with no plans to get either), but if others were to take the baton and run with it, maybe we could get some kind of grass roots effort going. So far I’ve complained to the stores directly (their hands are tied because they can’t appear to be “discriminating” against anyone due to the ADA laws). I’ve written to local representatives (heard nothing). It’d be great if we could start trying to shut down the websites that sell the fake service vests, and my dream is to get the ADA laws rewritten. So is anyone on board with me in starting something?
November 9, 2015 at 6:08 pm #828596
GreystreetParticipantMaybe it’s just my personal perspective, holy hats who would have thought! This blog is just littered with all things dog-b*tching that’s all, cmon a thread went >100 posts over DOG SH*T lmao I can’t believe people put this much effort into it…
Wakeflood–I’m a full time doctoral student and work full time as a nurse–I don’t spend an ounce of my energy on transportation advocacy that isn’t going to accomplish much, I just keep hoping I can get to work on time
The WSB is a huge reason we moved over here, I love this arena but I have noticed in the past few years just rising negativity in the side door known as “The Forums” — again just MY perspective, so go on, lash out
November 9, 2015 at 8:42 pm #828597
wsea98116ParticipantThe heart wants what it wants- and apparently, it wants to discuss misappropriated dog poop. I certainly don’t see anything negative about SueY’s call to action on what she see’s as a problem in our community. This is the kind of activism that is the best result of a community forum- whether it’s focusing on local property theft issues, or traffic issues, or this issue of some dog owners taking advantage of the ADA. I would think responsible dog owners would also be in support of addressing this issue..?
November 10, 2015 at 2:12 am #828598
SniperKittyParticipantGreystreet, maybe the dog complaints in the forum are just a way for people to vent some of their frustration at some dog owners (not all) who choose to ignore the rules and responsibilities that come with owning a dog. I am so sick of off-leash dogs everywhere I go and it really feels threatening to my safety. A person can tell the owners that they aren’t supposed to let their dog go off-leash at the park or beach and they just give you attitude and keep doing what they want because rules don’t apply to them. People take their non-service animals into the store and they know they can get away with it because the store isn’t gonna call them on it. Given the hopelessness of the situation, it is not a surprise that yelling some dog complaints into the void is about the only relief some of us get.
November 19, 2015 at 9:12 pm #828599
BelleMemberI was at a movie theater a few months ago and 5 rows in front of me sat a dog…on the theater seat. I thought it was a senior with white hair at first until it barked. Utter disbelief.
November 19, 2015 at 9:28 pm #828600
BelleMemberStopped going to church because people are bringing their dogs! Last time I was there I counted 6 dogs! 3 of them were large breeds. I just don’t get it. None of them have the vests that identify them as service dogs.
November 21, 2015 at 12:52 pm #828601
R0b0ParticipantDogs do not belong in restaurants, bars, or stores, especially grocery stores. I grew up owning and training dogs and am a dog lover.
November 21, 2015 at 1:15 pm #828602
littlebrowndogParticipantI raise dogs. I train dogs. I show dogs in three different dog sports. In the past I had a service. A very large percentage (not all) of pet owners are oblivious to the behavior of their dog on the other end of the leash (or off leash)and keep them on a loose leash, allow them to stare at, approach and sniff other dogs, and allow their dogs to explore and sniff when in restaurants, stores and similar places. Many pet owners just don’t have a clue about acceptable behavior in public. I am passionate about dogs, I rescue dogs, and I don’t like most pet dogs in public places. If my dog walking along in heel position passes by your dog lying at your feet and your dog tries to sniff my dog that stresses my dog out and might lead to a fight. And don’t tell me my dog is the one with the problem, I have tons of ribbons and titles to prove otherwise.
November 24, 2015 at 8:57 pm #828603
karl jParticipantGrocery stores, no. But dogs (most) are fine in a bar.
November 24, 2015 at 10:15 pm #828604
SueParticipantI disagree, karl j, that dogs are fine in a bar. I don’t go to Beveridge Place anymore because last time I was there a very large dog jumped up with his front paws on my chest and almost knocked me over, and I am not a short, lightweight person. I was too shocked to say anything in the moment, and the owner was oblivious. This is not what I want when I go out to eat or drink.
November 25, 2015 at 12:35 am #828605
karl jParticipantI said “most” dogs
November 25, 2015 at 3:28 am #828606
SniperKittyParticipantWhen did people become so needy and insecure that they decided it was completely acceptable to take their pet with them to completely inappropriate locations like churches, movie theaters, office buildings, grocery stores, and restaurants? I think Fluffy the dog can handle being at home for a couple of hours while you attend services or run some errands. You don’t see me strapping my cat into a baby Bjorn and hauling him all over town like a crazy person. An animal friendly location like a dog-themed bar or a Pet-Smart store makes sense, but people seriously need to chill on hauling their animals to places where many people don’t want them.
November 25, 2015 at 8:04 am #828607
wsea98116ParticipantI do not want your dog at me. I just want to sit on the curb with my kid at the farmers market, say hi to passing friends, and then- klomp! Klomp! Some dog jumps on me like a drunken frat boy, and knocks my slider off my lap! Wtf! “Oh gosh- I’m really sorry!” (But not sorry enough to buy me another $8 sandwich?!) Please- leave your dog at home! Also, your dog doesn’t need to pee on every pole, tree, and corner he passes, and you don’t have to let him! He is not part of some wild roving pack of dogs, and his pee-message will not be heeded by the other domesticated dogs that follow. At this point, it’s just dog piss- everywhere!!
November 25, 2015 at 9:33 pm #828608
karl jParticipantpsycho!
November 25, 2015 at 10:58 pm #828609
wsea98116ParticipantYou’re right, Karl J- my apologies. My anti-psychotic support companion dog, Mr. Bumbles, had just stepped out for a group therapy meeting he facilitates on Wednesdays- leaving me at the mercy of a variety of severe mental disorders! :(
(Thank goodness I DID have the posting help of my proofreader/punctuation adviser canary, C.J. Buzzer! Yay!)
November 28, 2015 at 4:22 pm #828610
JoBParticipantdogs aren’t the problem
owners are
when “exercising your rights” requires you to break laws and to limit the freedom of others… that’s not freedom.. that’s anarchy
and even that might sound great until you stop to ask yourself if you really want other people to have as little respect for your rights as you have for theirs…
that do unto others stuff is pretty powerful when you stop to realize how much you count on other people treating you with respect
Mr Bumbles wouldn’t act like that … and if he thinks facilitating group therapy sessions on Wednesdays is important enough to abandon poor wsea98116… he probably has a better grasp on this than ……… most dogs do
if only their people were better trained ;-)
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.