If you work in Starbucks - dogs?

[averychoc]

I love that Starbucks are so dog friendly, but is there not a rule that says staff should wash their hands after touching dogs? I feel like it should be common sense to do this before returning to a food/drink prep area but clearly not. Isn’t it part of the basic training? I find it so off putting that people are touching dogs and handing my coffee cup.

As a ddog owner I am baffled people can't manage to leave ddogs out of food providers...

I don't go into Starbucks so don't know what goes on in there. But I would have thought that there are public health/hygiene laws about handwashing before handling or preparing food or drink.

And this is one of many reasons why dogs shouldn't be allowed in cafes or restaurants.

My dogs prefer Gail’s, they say the quality of the puppucino at Starbucks has significantly deteriorated recently, and their friends agree. On this basis there are undoubtedly fewer dogs patronising Starbucks, so you’re probably safe from harm.

This is why I don’t go to cafes that allow dogs in ( fewer all the time )
Staff are paid to serve customers and should not touch dogs ( in my opinion )

Indeed. It's not fair for staff or customers who don't like dogs*.

But more particularly a lot of staff DO like dogs, want to pet them, and then don't, as the OP has pointed out, wash their hands. I have seen it in a few places - both chains and independent cafes. It should be a basic reaction: stroke dog, wash hands. Even better, don't pet the dog at all.

*assistance dogs don't count, there aren't many of them, and they are very highly trained

Urgh yeah I went into a Starbucks recently and there were three dogs all barking at each other. Yeah, great, very relaxing and chilled.

I’m don’t think I am going to come to harm, I just think it’s gross.

There are laws, but so many people seem to ignore I just wondered if Starbucks ever raised it with staff.

Are you never out on a dog walk and fancy a cuppa or a pastie?

Or maybe even worse, the one we went in yesterday where a largish dog jumped up at a member of staff carrying a tray laden with glasses etc causing her to drop them all. I felt so sorry for her and livid at the stupid dog owner.

Unfortunately it’s now becoming impossible to find places that DON’T allow dogs. Our favourite place still doesn’t luckily (possibly bc they’re Muslim!)

I see the petting/not washing hands thing so often and it’s 🤮

Yes, but sit outside? Why should animals be inflicted on everyone else? Many people don’t like dogs or other animals.

Would you be ok with my dd bringing her pet rat into a cafe?

Don’t even get me started on people who let them sit on the chairs/put their paws on the table. Selfish arseholes.

Why do you think it's gross?

It’s pretty basic hygiene.

Handwashing is basically rule number one in the catering industry. Surely you know this?

You don’t know why it might be considered gross?

I don't know how dog owners cope. They must be ill all the time!

My local cafe was very dog friendly, was taken over by new owners, completely refurbished and now only allows dogs in the outside area. It’s amazing now it absolutely stank and was grubby previously. I think things will revert back to a more sensible approach. It was just a post covid desperation to get customers back

Have you witnessed this?

That is not really what I am suggesting though. Of dog owners want to touch their dogs and not hand wash before prepping food this up to them. If I go to an establishment that has to hold a food hygiene rating I expect them to be in top of basics. If they can’t do that, what else are they slack about?

I would have thought that was obvious, hence the thread.

🤣

I genuinely don't know why it might be considered gross. I've worked with animals and had pets all my life, I don't wash my hands after I touch them every single time. It doesn't feel gross to me. Shaking hands with someone is another matter - lord knows what they just did with that hand!

Also, the Starbucks staff touch other stuff, their hair, money, their own body and clothes, used cutlery and crockery they're collecting, used napkins, packaging Is a dog more gross than that?

People get hungry and thirsty when out with their dogs and if places are dog friendly they can take their dogs in with them. I’ve never noticed handwashing or not but I’ve never been ill after using Starbucks or anywhere that allows dogs.

Agreed!

Did you speak to anyone at the Starbucks you were in? They’d probably have been best placed to answer your question.