We were in iHop yesterday morning for breakfast. A young couple left and they had a medium size "Doodle" (dog) with them. It wasn't wearing a Service Dog Vest. I brought that up to our Server and he asked the manager. The manager told him to tell us, "The owner was asked if the dog was a Service Dog and the owner told him it was, but they had left the Vest at home." The manager accepted that and let them eat with the dog with them. There is a sign on the front door that says "Service Dogs Only". I didn't think it was right for the manager to allow the couple in with the dog and no Service Dog Vest on. We stopped at Walmart and I asked an employee that we've seen before and she told me "We aren't allowed to ask where the Vest is if no wearing one, so they just walk into the store with their dog. I seriously doubt I'd see someone walking into a "Upper-Class" store, like Macy's or Sacks Fifth Avenue with a dog that isn't wearing a Vest, but the way it is today, basically the public can do anything they want. Places are so scared that someone might have a gun and use it. Your thoughts?
I don’t know of any place around here that will allow service dogs in any establishment without their service vests on. Sounds like to me that the couple at Ihop just wanted to bring in their dog and used it as an excuse. Most people who have service dogs are responsible owners and KNOW to have the dogs vests on, simply because no one is to pet or approach those dogs unless the handler/owner says it is ok. That is what I have always been told. I have seen service dogs in grocery stores and other places that were extremely well behaved and the dogs always had vests on.
But, what about Heath Codes? I mean, a dog in a restaurant, with or without a Vest, really shouldn't be allowed. From what I understand, it takes nothing to buy a Vest online and put it on a dog. If people want to eat with their dog, simply stay at home. I mean, what's next, bringing a Boa, wrapped around a person neck, into a restaurant? The way wife and I see it, way, way too many people are bringing their pets into restaurants and stores. If the pet decides to go potty, what then?
Service dogs are working dogs and can help save their humans life. They are also more disciplined, have better manners, and smell better than some humans too. I have no problem with service dogs being in any establishment.
If anyone followed the original Planet of the Apes movies, the origins involved all of the dogs and cats dying off. Those insisting on infantilized slave animals turned to primates, and before long they used simians who could do laundry, shopping, etc. until they began to displace workers. Then the unrest began.
@Cody Fousnaugh - you focus way too much on what others do or dont do. Like who hired you as public police? Unless the animal is barking, or in any way a distraction to others, then I would let it alone. Not everyone can be a model citizen
Sometimes I’d be happy to replace some of the loud, rude, human patrons with dogs. Most dogs I know have better manners than some humans, present company excluded of course.
All I'm saying is, those dogs that don't have a Service Dog Vest on shouldn't be allowed in a restaurant period. People lie all of the time and that means the owner could very well be lying, just to be able to take their dog in. As for us, wife and I, we don't think any kind of animal should be allowed in a restaurant...........period! We think the entire thing is getting very "out of hand" and that's exactly what a Walmart Greeter told us. Taking you dog, Service Dog or not, into a pet store is one thing, but where people are eating is really another thing. Really seems like today, people are taking their dogs into almost every store and many of those dogs are NOT Service Dogs. Employees are told not to approach them at all............or be fired. So, who does run these restaurants and stores? Sounds to me like the public does.
I know what you folks are telling me here, but what does the Health Department say? I read an article where people were trying to take all kinds of animals, including a pet pig or chicken, on a plane and were told they couldn't.
A little "off beat" here, but a Walmart that we use to shop at, had a sign on the front door saying "NO Firearms Allowed" and I seen a guy walk right in with a firearm in a holster on his belt. He wasn't stopped at all. Why post a sign if employees are told not to confront the person?
What this really sounds to me like is..........nobody cares anymore! There are a lot of dogs, that aren't Service Dogs and/or not wearing a Vest, that people are bringing into stores and restaurants today.
When I took my wife to a hospital in Colorado for a Mammogram Test, there was a sign on the wall in the Waiting Room that stated "No Dogs Allowed, Not Even Service Dogs".
Cody, there are at least a half dozen threads where you have gotten upset and complained about other people or just stuff to management whilst going to a restaurant. Chill dude. Crap is going to happen no matter where you go so expect it when you go out and try to enjoy yourself instead of trying to find fault with everything. Now, to the question about fear: sure. People who own or manage businesses are more afraid of the public now than ever before but it isn’t over guns necessarily. With the absence of someone who will prosecute law breakers, the businesses have to put up with looters and shop lifters not to even mention the number of law suits that can be forced upon an owner at the drop of a hat. In the case of your dog owner, if perchance that management saw it your way and kicked her out and she had a stress attack even though the dog was supposed to help prevent such attacks, the manager could very well get sued and his career ended. I may not like animals in restaurants and such either but if I were a young man with a family and a budding career, I’m not about to risk everything over a unvested dog especially if the dog [and it’s owner] are clean and not disruptive. At least the animal in question wasn’t an ostrich or a peacock like a couple of people tried to get onto a plane with.
I love dogs, but I don't want them in restaurants or food stores. Sorry, but I don't like watching a dog drool or lick his privates while I'm eating, so please leave your pet at home. If I walked into a restaurant and saw a dog (vest or no vest), I'd simply turn around and leave. I'm the only person I have control over, at least for now.