Do you think there will ever come a time when business need to take account of the needs of those of us allergic to dogs?

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OK, so I don't want this to turn into one of the many threads where huge rows erupt about the number of dogs around. I accept that this seems to be the way of the world - for now anyway - but some recent experiences have made me question the implications.

I'm in the process of booking a UK touring holiday and have spent the last few weeks trying to book some medium range hotels in various places. Mainly countryside locations which might be part of the issue.

I am allergic to dogs and prone to fairly serious reactions, including asthma attacks if exposed for a prolonged period.

The problem is that I'm coming across so many places I like only to read that they are pet friendly. This is often accompanied by photos showing dogs running around the hotel interior, sitting on the beds and couches in rooms etc. If I were to stay in this room after a dog had been there it's highly likely I'd be quite poorly. When I've rung these hotels to ask if they have any designated pet free rooms, they have replied that no, they are 'pet friendly', as if this somehow makes them morally superior and those of us who have allergies are some sort of animal hater!

Given the legislation on dietary labelling that came in following some tragic incidents, I do wonder if we're going to end up in a situation where someone is likely to come to harm through inadvertent exposure. This is probably more likely to be a child as grown adults will be able to spot early warning signs.

I'm just interested in views on this as it's increasingly feeling like I'm being denied access to a service in a way that would not be acceptable in other situations.

No but some peanut allergies are so severe that they can be triggered by someone else eating peanuts in the vicinity

PP said they didn’t know it could be this serious as it hadn’t been before. His previous symptoms had been fairly mild.

Not to dogs, but half of the people who die of anaphylaxis have never had a systemic reaction before. That’s one of the reasons allergies can be so dangerous, they’re unpredictable.

They’ve studied it and it’s not really a thing with nuts, which probably accounts for the stance most airlines take.
Residues remaining on seats/tables etc is by far the greater risk.
Or accidental ingestion onboard with unfamiliar food etc.

Do nuts normally drool, slobber, smell and shit on the street? News to me.

Let me rephrase that for you then.

People’s health should be a higher priority than the profits of cafe owners.

No I do not think businesses should or will take accountability for your allergies when you have the option to chose somewhere pet free.

There is lots of things in life we are excluded from if we don't meet certain conditions ie sometimes we can't afford something, or we can't go with kids, or we can't do if we aren't a certain age etc
Is it the businesses responsibility to be accountable for our financial status if we can't afford it so they should make it cheaper just for me?

Not how life works.
Pick somewhere animal free. It's easy. It's not up to the rest of the world to cater for you if that's not how their business works.

But if the cafe owner chooses to allow them then pick somewhere else.
There are options. You don't NEED to visit a certain cafe in order to survive in life.
It's not a basic human requirement. It's a luxury. So pick a place that suits.

My God the entitlement here.
The people who take dogs places don't get up in arms on here when places don't allow them, they pick somewhere else. As has been mentioned service dogs are exempt anyway so they're always going to be around and those are around by law.

I have two dogs. Love them, enjoy them, but do I want to see dogs in every pub, cafe and shop I visit? No. We have our own caravan so when we dine out, we can leave them behind. But I have left many eating establishments if I notice a dog staring and sometimes slathering at food all around them. It really is off putting. So even us dog loves don’t always want them everywhere OP. My two love to go in the sea, they absolutely hum when they come out. No way would I then take them in a cafe, I’d find it quite gross.

People with health issues can chose where to go
Theres plenty of choice out there and in issues such as this it’s the business owners choice to run their business how they wish

For all those saying it’s discrimination, what about places that are child-free? Are they discriminating against parents??
no - it just means people with kids need to find somewhere that suits their needs

Why should they? They’re not charities, the whole point of the business is to make profit.
you don’t expect any other business to sacrifice some of their profit to accommodate allergies of a relatively small group

^THIS

Pick somewhere animal free. It's easy

@Sachrine
The position of lots of people on this thread is that it’s not easy though. That dogs seem to be everywhere now. That there isn’t the choice there needs to be.

That’s the issue.

I think it probably depends where you live but it certainly seems problematic for some, as described upthread.
For example a pp said “I can’t think of a single coffee shop in my nearest town that you can’t take dogs into” and there were several more posts in that vein.

It really doesn’t seem as if it’s always easy to pick somewhere animal free.

There are plenty of places if you look for them and most are dogs welcome but outside. A lot of places won't actually let them inside the establishment.
But again, you don't need to visit a cafe for survival as a basic necessity. So find one that suits or don't go. And again service animals are exempt so you won't escape them anywhere really.
Find a cafe that bans blind people maybe?

I love dogs but HATE this trend where it seems like should be allowed absolutely everywhere. I have a mild allergy; just itchy eyes usually and sneezing so I can get by but why should I have to sit and listen to dogs barking at each other, lolling under tables or licking their bits against the floor? Is it necessary to have EVERY room in a hotel have dogs lounging around or could places be a little more accommodating for everyone…and yes, I do also think service dogs should be in designated areas. There’s no need to have animals in every single place whether they are considered necessary or not. Obviously if an establishment doesn’t have enough space for an animal section and animal free, then service dogs would be anywhere within.

But generally, I think it’s ridiculous that we’re now forced to have them quite literally everywhere all the time

Unless all cafes became dog free then why would some be mandated to have no dogs and others be allowed them? They are private, commercial entities and those that are allowed to have dogs would have an obvious competitive advantage. It's like demanding that some cafes have a menu that caters to all possible food allergies whilst others can serve whatever they want. It's obvious which ones would struggle to survive.

If the problem was as prolific as many on this thread seem to suggest then there would theoretically be a specific market for some dog free places. Commercial entities tend to respond to demand.

You clearly don’t understand the concept of discrimination.
An establishment that accepts dogs is not refusing to allow people who don’t want to be around dogs into their establishment - that WOULD be discrimination. A bit like a bar that refuses entry to under 18s. Any people who don’t want to be around dogs have the option of going in or not going in. My niece, who is extremely allergic to many things including dogs, cats and horses, always has her inhaler and antihistamines with her, plus her epipen. She actually loves dogs btw.

I really don’t care if it was deleted or who reported it. Wouldn’t have known if you didn’t say.

I have more or less made the same points in each of my posts, so what I said here in the post you’re quoting still stands - and is a essentially a shorter version of what I said in my deleted post to you.

I was replying to another poster who agreed with what I was saying. And I can refer to your comments in any posts that I choose. You have a nerve to be talking about pathetic.

There are plenty of places if you look for them and most are dogs welcome but outside. A lot of places won't actually let them inside the establishment.
I think this very much depends where you live from what people are saying.
But again, you don't need to visit a cafe for survival as a basic necessity. So find one that suits or don't go.
That doesn’t solve the problem and it doesn’t sound very fair.
And again service animals are exempt so you won't escape them anywhere really.
There aren’t so many of those so it’s not an everyday issue.
Find a cafe that bans blind people maybe?
What?
People do not mind if there is a genuine medical need for a dog to be there. Pets mostly don’t fall into that category.

There really aren’t places everywhere, though. There are literally no cafes or pubs (we don’t have a Wetherspoons) in my nearest town that don’t allow dogs. There are a couple of restaurants but obviously that’s no good if you just want a quick coffee.

i don’t actually mind, though could do without the yappy furbaby types (other dogs are fine) that seem to populate a couple of them, but it would be very difficult for someone with an allergy or phobia.

And as for this:

The people who take dogs places don't get up in arms on here when places don't allow them, they pick somewhere else

There’s someone complaining on this thread that Wetherspoons doesn’t allow dogs!

People put money into a business to earn a living, and they hope they will make more money at it, than they would by leaving their money a bank, earning interest. They are not going to take a cut in their living standards or be unable to live at all (what with high rents certainly in my town) for the sake of some complete strangers, who are allergic to dogs. They might as well not bother with the cafe, and leave their money in the bank. Then nobody gets to go to a cafe.

I have never seen a dog in any of the cafes or restaurants in our town. I can only think of one pub, where I have seen dogs, as the owners have two dogs.

(Speaking as someone who developed an allergy to cats and even more so dogs, and takes antihistamines every day rather than get rid of my rescue cats. I have to take double the dose to be around a dog)

There’s someone complaining on this thread that Wetherspoons doesn’t allow dogs!

As a tongue in cheek reaction to this thread I would assume.
They didn't start a thread in outrage.

People do not mind if there is a genuine medical need for a dog to be there. Pets mostly don’t fall into that category.

Well those that claim allergies can't be TOO allergic after all if it's different if they're a service dog then.
Even though the fact they're a dog with fur remains the same...

Anyway it's not a necessity to visit these establishments so if dogs being allowed is a problem we all have the choice not to go. It's the businesses choice, they probably get more business by allowing than restricting. If they're turning away 5 customers with dogs for one without who's "allergic" I know what I'd do.. The option that makes more business sense.
No one needs a cafe for survival, they'll do just fine not visiting one if dogs are present. I walk out of cafes if there are kids in them.. We all have our preferences. 🤷‍♀️

Oh, give over. Allergies are often affected by the load of the allergen a person is exposed to. One service dog sat on the floor is not equivalent to many dogs in the same space or one who has shared the same seating space.

There are a lot of people on mumsnet who say they can't be anywhere an animal has been for even a second or they have these "attacks".
It's up to the business at the end of the day. Again turning away 5 people with dogs for one person with "allergies" doesn't sound like good business sense.

I don't even have a dog but who cares. If I want to avoid them I go elsewhere. Be good to find a few kid free places that aren't just pubs.