Consumer Etiquette Part 6: Animals

One would assume that there’s no reason dedicating a post in this series to animals, as everyone knows the rules. In reality, the rules are too simple, and not everyone knows them, or chooses not to follow them.

The main rule thumb is basically common sense: don’t bring animals into a store. Yet, occasionally people forget about the rule or even better, assume it doesn’t apply to them and their lovely pet Dobermann called Killer…

So, I’m going to clarify and lay out the innards of this common sense rule, thoroughly enough that even the most simple-headed animal lover will understand.

Some stores allow pets onto its premises. It would benefit everyone if you either found out before hand or bothered to ask the clerk BEFORE you take your pet inside the store. Any store that sells or serves food will have a strict no animals rule, due to hygiene reasons. Again, common sense. You are not allowed to take you pet into a grocery market or restaurant, although special privileges may be given to blind people with seeing eye dogs or ponies. Again, find out or ask.

Other than food stores, many places may allow for small dogs or cats on a leash. Let me repeat that: SMALL DOGS OR CATS. Your Great Dane is not small, no matter how much you insist. Alternatively, you can always impersonate Paris Hilton and carry your little dog in your handbag, if you wish…

And it’s not just the size of your pet that really matters. Big animals are not allowed because they may knock items off the shelves or scare other customers. People can have allergies which prohibit them being in an enclosed space with your dog. Some people may be afraid of big dogs, morbidly so. And what if there’s another dog already in the store when you walk in? Dogs barking in an enclosed space with customers everywhere is not pleasant to anyone’s ears. The customers always come before the pets. So please, have some consideration for other people as well.

The weather outside is no excuse to bring your pet into a store when you’re not allowed to do that. Be it cold or hot, that doesn’t change the rule. Some of the excuses I’ve heard are “it’s really cold outside and I didn’t want to leave my dog in the cold while I shop” and “It’s too hot to leave the dog in the car”. First, if your dog was fine outside walking with you to the store, there’s no reason why it could stay out there for a bit longer. Second, it’s against the law to leave your dog in the car when it’s hot outside, and you can’t bring it into the store, so you might as well leave it at home while you go shopping.

Oh, and I just have to mention this, because it happened recently. A customer came into the store with his daughter and a Golden Retriever. They spent over an hour in the store, with the daughter browsing and the dad and dog sat in one spot the whole time. During this time the dog found some items on the floor where they had fallen from the shelves. What does the dog do? It chews the hell out of them. What does the owner do? Nothing. He had no reaction until it was noticed that the dog had eaten several items and he was told that he’d have to pay for the damaged goods. Whine whine whine… Total cost: 3euros…
If you bring a dog into a store and it breaks something, you’re responsible for covering for the damaged goods. Or you could have left the dog outside…

Remember, us humans domesticated animals in the first place, and if it weren’t for us, they’d still be roaming the great outdoors. So telling the clerk that your Husky can’t survive outside will be taken as a load of crap… Rules come first, then your love for your pet.

I’ll leave all you animal lovers to think about that…

[<---Go To Part 5]
[Go To Part 7--->]

Part Zero: Introduction [16.08.2007]
Part One: What You Might Not Know [17.08.2007]
Part Two: Everyday People [18.08.2007]
Part Three: Under The Influence [19.08.2007]
Part Four: Children And Their Parents [20.08.2007]
Part Five: Senior Citizens [21.08.2007]
Part Six: Animals [22.08.2007]
Part Seven: Disorderly Conduct [23.08.2007]
Part Eight: Tips And Hints [24.08.2007]
Part Nine: For The Workers [25.08.2007]
Part Ten: Summary [26.08.2007]

If you have any comments, experiences or additions to this post, please leave a comment! Thank you in advance!