Friday, November 13, 2009

In Which I Rant- Again

Remember how much I like shopping with dogs?

Well, here's another stellar example of rampant disregard to put on the pile:

I was in Target about a week ago with my girls and I noticed that some skangy looking guy and his equally skangy friend were shopping with their rats dogs. I muttered under my breath as I walked in another direction about how I hate it when people bring their rats dogs into store with them.
Later, we were wandering into electronics when we passed Skangy Dude 1 again. My daughter was fiddling with her coat and had it over her head as she passed by the cart. The cart with the rat dog that I didn't even see. The cart that was about 2 feet away from her.
The little rat dog craned her neck, bared her teeth and growled/barked/snapped at my daughter and startled us all.
Skangy Dude whirled around (He did not see a thing) and snapped at my daughter for approaching his rat dog.

#1 All of my children from the 12 year old to the 4 year old have been trained to never approach a dog unless they have asked permission from the master- and then to approach the dog in a non-threatening, even submissive position.

#2 Dogs do not belong in the store!!!!

I yelled at him that she didn't even know the dog was there and that his rat dog didn't even belong inside the store, and I promptly informed the front end supervisor that I think the policy of allowing dogs in a store sucks. And then I left.

My point is this:
I respect the fact that people need service dogs.
I can even buy the argument that there are some people who need a companion dog to function on some level of normal.
The thing is, that ONLY service dogs should be allowed in stores, and those dogs should be marked as service dogs and fully trained not to interact with the general public- And certainly not to snap at a little girl who happens to pass by.

The dog is just lucky that it didn't touch my daughter... I'm just sayin.

Now, I have a letter to write to the Target headquarters and a newspaper editorial page.

Maybe I'll get a dog like Marmaduke and take it shopping. We'll see how long that stupid PC policy of not requiring dogs to be service animals lasts.

7 comments:

Karyn @ Candarbry Garden said...

My friend Julie has A service dog... Great Dane, You can borrow him if you want!

Trish said...

Contact your Health Dept. and ask what the law is on non-serrvice animals in a place that sells food for human consumption. I'm pretty sure that it is illegal to allow anything but service animals into stores.

If they do allow dogs that are not service dogs then you should borrow a pot-belly pig and take it in, because if they allow non-service dogs then they have to allow all animals.

Julie said...

I am laughing because in Europe people's dogs are everywhere and I am always shocked wondering why a dog is next to me in a restaurant.

KatBouska said...

Yeah I don't get it either...since when are dogs allowed in stores?? Is it only small dogs that are okay now? Or can I walk through Target with three Greyhounds in tow as I search for stocking stuffers? It makes no sense...and bravo to you for sticking up for your daughter! I love setting examples for my kids like that...it's okay to speak up for yourself!!

Lula! said...

Dogs are allowed in Target in WA?

Girl...
come on down south. Ain't no dogs in the Target. Yee-haw.

Angie said...

A store can only ask if it is a service animal, the person can say it is and can not be questioned further. no proof required!!!!!

2Shaye ♪♫ said...

Gina, this is just awful! I hope you did write your letter and editorial. When dangerous (untrained) animals are in open spaces like grocery stores, it's unsafe for our families. And some of us are allergic to certain animals, as well. I am horrified that he yelled at your daughter, too. Ugh!