Dogs are everywhere these days
Are you a dog person? I love dogs, but I also have allergies to their fur and dander, so I have to measure my interaction with some breeds.
What I still marvel at is how dogs are everywhere these days. You see them in airports and on planes and in stores everywhere. I went to a beach last week here in Florida and saw a guy with a small dog in the water trying to teach it to stand on a body board. The dog wanted no parts of this and was barking loudly. A woman accompanying them was sitting on the beach taking video of all of the dog’s surfing attempts. What I found ironic was that this all took place right in front of the “No dogs allowed” sign at the beach entrance.
We stopped into the patio bar/restaurant at our nearby golf course for a bite after playing golf a few nights ago and sat at the bar. Next to us was a couple having a drink with their dog sitting on the man’s lap and resting his chin on the bar (the dog, not the man). I know different states have different laws about dogs in public places, and I believe they are allowed to be in an outdoor restaurant. However, I’m pretty sure the law doesn’t provide for them to be sitting up at the bar or table with mouth or paws on the eating surface.
A few days later, I went to a grocery store and noticed a man next to me with a dog on a leash. People were stopping to talk to him and make over his dog. While the people were conversing, the dog wandered over to the bottom shelf holding packages of donuts. Yes, the dog pressed its nose on the donut packages and other things (because it’s a dog and that’s what dogs do). No one else seemed to notice this or, if they did, apparently didn’t see a problem with it. Myself, I don’t want to buy food covered in dog slobber and germs. Call me crazy. Again – I love dogs; I just don’t understand why people have to take them everywhere with them, especially if that infringes on cleanliness or health in any place serving or selling food.
This week, I stopped at home improvement and home furnishing stores where more people had their dogs with them. At one of them, I was in line to check out and turned around to find a stroller behind me holding a little grey poodle. It was well-behaved and not sniffing or touching any of the merchandise. I started laughing because it was such a cute dog and it looked funny sitting in the stroller. I have to wonder if the dog enjoys shopping as much as its owner!
Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com