Dogs In Stores -- What???

[JanM]

You can’t ban a service animal because of allergies of other customers, or employees. When I worked in a library (a military library, but like your public library), we had an employee that was so allergic to dogs that she could tell several days after the MPs had their working dogs in the library for training.

We asked about service dogs, and her allergy, and were told that if she was allergic, and a service dog came in the library, she could leave until the animal left. However, the animal could not be excluded because of the woman’s allergy. She would get breathing issues, I guess from the dander. This woman had also been a teacher for a while, and didn’t go back to it because of the service animal issues, and her allergies. She taught in high school, and the local high school had several service dogs about the time she thought about going back, but it was too much risk for her to be in the same place with them. Plus, she was worried with constant exposure her allergies might get worse.

I’m one of those people that does the right thing during an emergency, and when she started carrying an Epipen, she told me what to do if she had a bad attack. Trust me, if necessary I would have done it, but it didn’t make me want to ever need to.

Her brother’s allergies were worse, and life threatening. He went to look at an apartment, or condo, and asked about previous tenants with animals, and told them about his allergy. The landlady didn’t think allergies were real, and lied about the previous resident’s several cats. Lewis walked into the apartment, and very soon after was having a major issue, and 911 had to be called. All because someone didn’t think it could be that bad, and lied to him.

My mother had a selective allergy (I doubt she had a real one, she just didn’t like animals, and liked attention) where her childhood asthma symptoms went away after her mother got rid of her several cats. If my mother knew about a cat being in a house, she started wheezing, and teared up. If she didn’t know the animals were around, no symptoms, so that’s why I didn’t believer her.

[flashwhitelock]

@RobinL

Service dogs are allowed everywhere, even the grocery store and pharmacy. What makes them any less allergenic or less fearful than a non-service dog?

Service dogs are not less a problem for allergies except I have found most service dog people are much more aware of being considerate and usually wash their dogs often especially before somewhere like a grocery store. Service dogs usually are better trained, don’t rub up against things and don’t try to jump up on others. They aren’t usually placed in carts where someone might touch. I have found it to be otherwise with therapy animals which are NOT supposed to be in the stores. Also, the more dogs that come in, the higher percentage chance that the protein in the dander will waft my direction.

Yes, I also have a responsibility for myself to bring wipes, not touch if I don’t need and bring the right meds just in case. Yes, I have to change my clothes and shower as soon as I get home, just in case. I don’t expect the world to revolve around someone with allergies but I do expect others to follow the law: Service dogs are allowed; therapy dogs are NOT allowed. Yes, I do expect common courtesy from anyone with a service dog, they at least understand what it’s like to have issues and to need to work with others.

[Nezzy]

Much rather see a dog than a screaming child.

[red_mares]

@Nezzy

Much rather see a dog than a screaming child.

I’d rather not see either. At least with kids, the authorities frown if you leave them at home by themselves, so there’s the threat of jail if you don’t have a sitter. That’s not really a huge concern with dogs.

A guy had dog in a rather large jogging stroller in the fabric store over the weekend. He was no less self centered than a parent with a ridiculously large stroller. I’m thinking moreso, actually.

[rubles]

@flashwhitelock

Service dogs are not less a problem for allergies except I have found most service dog people are much more aware of being considerate and usually wash their dogs often especially before somewhere like a grocery store. Service dogs usually are better trained, don’t rub up against things and don’t try to jump up on others. They aren’t usually placed in carts where someone might touch. I have found it to be otherwise with therapy animals which are NOT supposed to be in the stores. Also, the more dogs that come in, the higher percentage chance that the protein in the dander will waft my direction.

Yes, I also have a responsibility for myself to bring wipes, not touch if I don’t need and bring the right meds just in case. Yes, I have to change my clothes and shower as soon as I get home, just in case. I don’t expect the world to revolve around someone with allergies but I do expect others to follow the law: Service dogs are allowed; therapy dogs are NOT allowed. Yes, I do expect common courtesy from anyone with a service dog, they at least understand what it’s like to have issues and to need to work with others.

Sorry to learn of your dog problem and the extreme length you need to take in order to rid yourself of dog contamination. So is your allergy an inhalant allergy, topical allergy or something I’m not accustomed to hearing about? Surely it’s not soiled clothing and hands. Is it their saliva, dander or their very presence that sets you off?
I have allergies myself so I’m trying to understand yours. You mention wipes and medicine. What symptoms do they counteract?

[enjoytheride]

I see dogs in my store all the time, and it’s pretty easy to tell if it’s an actual service animal or not, like when it’s a husky puppy or it licks my leg or eats something off the counter. We don’t bother asking, although we are allowed to, because people are easily offended and everyone knows the ol “service animal” shtick. Personally I think it’s silly that someone can’t function without their dog for an hour while they grocery shop.

[GoodTimes]

@rubles

Sorry to learn of your dog problem and the extreme length you need to take in order to rid yourself of dog contamination. So is your allergy an inhalant allergy, topical allergy or something I’m not accustomed to hearing about? Surely it’s not soiled clothing and hands. Is it their saliva, dander or their very presence that sets you off?
I have allergies myself so I’m trying to understand yours. You mention wipes and medicine. What symptoms do they counteract?

She mentioned dander in her post.
I imagine wipes would be to help remove any dander that might be on shopping cart handles, etc. Medicine would likely be an antihistamine of some sort to help combat an allergic reaction.
I’m sure as someone on a horse forum you understand that hair and dander get on everything.

P.S. maybe it’s just me but your post comes off as kind of rude. Do you ask so many questions of someone with a nut allergy? Or do you accept that you just shouldn’t have anything with nuts anywhere near them?

[rubles]

Good times,
I have allergies too. As I said I’m interested in what symptoms she experiences. It must take a very small amount of dander to require the use of wipes and the need to launder clothing. Wet fur coats would cause me an inhalant allergy, sometimes wet dogs do too. So if hand contact with a dander laden surface would probably cause a rash, but I’m guessing. Dander laden clothes would not necessarily contact skin, so is the allergy an inhalant? Not rude at all.
The allergy being discussed isn’t nuts. And yes, I would still ask–inhalant, topical or both. I don’t think anyone aware of an allergy to nuts would ingest them. Do you?

[Ladylexie]

@RPM

I went to the drugstore the other day. I saw a Papillon sitting in the child seat of the cart of the woman in line at the pharmacy counter. Pretty, clean-looking dog. But in a shopping cart at the pharmacy counter? Where people come to buy meds, not only for allergies?

No.

Yesterday I went to the drugstore. In the dairy aisle was a dog on a leash. Not in a cart, on the floor, on a leash.

I like dogs. But I do not like them in pharmacies or in grocery stores.

They used to be prohibited. I know about fake “service animals” that can go anywhere these days. But neither of these dogs was wearing a vest or a coat or a special harness identifying them as service animals.

Especially considering that even a housebroken dog may not be housebroken anywhere but in its own home, I REALLY don’t want these animals in my grocery store or drugstore. A pet store, OK.

But as to the housebroken aspect, I guess it’s no worse than a baby having its diaper changed in a rest room that can’t be sprayed down like a London sidewalk loo.

I LOVE to see a dog anywhere! They make me so happy!

When I worked at j. crew and GAP dogs were welcome. We do carry our dogs into DD because if we are walking we aren’t going to leave them outside.

[Casey09]

I worry a lot more about getting a germ from people than animals. We have had a terrible season for sickness and I also know many people undergoing chemo, etc. right now. I’m sorry, but if you are sick use the service where they will bring your groceries to your car rather than exposing everyone in a store.
Frankly, I’m a dog lover to the core so I am biased, but I get much more irritated with people behavior out in public than dog behavior. Of course if your dog makes a mess somewhere, you should be the one to clean it up (barring a veterinary clinic). It is upsetting when people ruin something for everyone, but personally I think dogs are more well behaved when they get to go places and see different things.
Of course I strongly disagree with fake service dogs, etc. We all have to follow the rules. I enjoy getting titles too, but it goes without saying that the therapy titles are for people who really want to do that work. I’ve known many people who do.
All in all, I have to say that I enjoy seeing people out with dogs. My own dogs love to places where they are allowed to go, and I wouldn’t take them where they weren’t allowed - but I’d probably enjoy a dog in a pharmacy : )
i do think that while fake service animals have certainly been documented, we should all be careful about assuming a dog is fake. I’ve known a person who had seizures. I’ve seen her out and about with her service dog, who is a little toy breed mix. He signals an upcoming seizure so that she can prepare in the safest way possible. He is very helpful to her, but many people accuse her of him being fake because he is little and she doesn’t look like she needs a service animal. It is kind of like assuming that someone doesn’t need a handicapped parking space. Some of types of disabilities aren’t as easily seen as others, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.

[JanM]

Did anyone see the article about the child in the Phoenex airport that was nipped, or almost nipped, or somehow hurt by a support animal? Apparently the child decided to charge the dog. Not blaming the person with the support animal for this one, but the human parents.

http://ktar.com/story/1961941/suppor…?show=comments

This article is a pain to load, but other stories said the kid charged the animal.

Exactly right Ladylexie, but with this kid’s age I’m more inclined to say stupid parents.

[Ladylexie]

@JanM

Did anyone see the article about the child in the Phoenex airport that was nipped, or almost nipped, or somehow hurt by a support animal? Apparently the child decided to charge the dog. Not blaming the person with the support animal for this one, but the human parents.

http://ktar.com/story/1961941/support-dog-injures-child-on-plane-at-phoenix-airport/?show=comments

This article is a pain to load, but other stories said the kid charged the animal.

Stupid kids

[rubles]

Sounds like the child ran into the dog’s open mouth.
So service animals are allowed on the floor. Sometimes there’s hardly room for my feet on the floor. Service animal must be wedged in somehow. No blame at all–it was an accident. But of course the dog gets blamed.

[LockeMeadows]

@rubles

I don’t mind well-behaved dogs accompanying their owners where ever their owner’s take them. There are more bacteria left on shopping cart handles from unwashed hands than pets anyway. If I’m going to complain about something pets isn’t anywhere near the top of the list e.g. Shoppers with the week-end shopping in the 10 and less items. Clerk can’t say anything, but I can and do because they think their time is more valuable to them than others in line

I love dogs and we have 5 of them (2 large dogs and little ones). That being said, I think it is very unethical to bring a dog (or any animal for that matter) into a Pharmacy. I’ll use my son as an example. He has severe allergies, some of which include animals. I would be pretty pissed having him with me and picking up medication for him and there is an animal in the store that he’s allergic to. Luckily, he’s ok with dogs and cats, but I know there are people that are HIGHLY allergic to them. Someone’s need to for emotional support should not trump someone else’s right to not have an allergic reaction PICKING UP their medication.

[Casey09]

@LockeMeadows

I love dogs and we have 5 of them (2 large dogs and little ones). That being said, I think it is very unethical to bring a dog (or any animal for that matter) into a Pharmacy. I’ll use my son as an example. He has severe allergies, some of which include animals. I would be pretty pissed having him with me and picking up medication for him and there is an animal in the store that he’s allergic to. Luckily, he’s ok with dogs and cats, but I know there are people that are HIGHLY allergic to them. Someone’s need to for emotional support should not trump someone else’s right to not have an allergic reaction PICKING UP their medication.

This has been an issue for years with seeing eye dogs, which have always gone in pharmacies, airplanes, grocery stores, etc. Emotional support animals are a current hot button, but what about animals that detect seizures, low blood sugar, etc.? It is a very hard question. What about a child having a peanut butter snack in a public space?
From years ago, if a blind person had a seeing eye dog and another person was highly allergic, the most that can could be done on a plane was to seat them as far away as possible.

[Nezzy]

In England, do they have so many problems? I know they are much more Dog-friendly than over here (USA).