Shop allows dogs in and my item is ruined

[shedidwhatnan]

Argh. Still annoyed even typing this

Visited a store of a well known aspirational brand today.

They let dogs in and have water bowls outside, encouraging dogs to 'take a sip' and then goes on to say all dogs on leads or dogs in arms are welcome inside

I had just spent good money on something and stopped to have a look at something on the display table near the exit.

The owner seemed to have been having a browse next to me and her dog proceeded to go right next to me! My paper bag from the shop got wet

The store assistant noticed, giggled and went to get some stuff to clean up. No mention of my bag or compensating me when I said 'Oh dear, it's on my bag now'. She just said 'ha, what are they like!' Then ignored me and started chatting to the owner who whilst the cleaning stuff was fetched, kept apologising to me over and over

And in truth, it isn't the dog owners fault really. The ultimate blame is with the shop for allowing dogs of any kind beyond guide dogs into the place.

I asked for a clean bag. Discovered my item also got wet. Shop assistant said 'oh, hopefully it'll just wash out!' And that was that

I was so embarrassed and upset that I left

AIBU to think dogs shouldn't be in shops? I can sort of see the appeal to have a tasteful sausage dog allowed in but not medium+ size breeds!

We have dog allergies and would find it difficult if someone sat next to us in a cafe with their dog. Okay outside, but inside it would be a problem, yes. Love dogs, but literally can’t tolerate them unfortunately. Always look for pet free holiday homes etc. If a cafe was advertised as pet friendly we’d have to avoid it.

What I’m trying to point out is that a dog doesn’t have to be poorly trained or disruptive to be problematic for others. I, and others in my family, would be irritated by your dog’s presence - very literally.

I stay away from places which promote themselves as family friendly because I don’t want to be surrounded by screaming kids and babies shitting where they sit. I don’t say that those places shouldn’t exist though.

I think John Lewis have always allowed dogs in.

I certainly remember a TV documentary series about JL 30 or more years ago and staff complaining about having to clean wee and crap up.

From the dogs that is...

My life also revolves around my dogs and apart from the cafe, all the areas beach, woods are where dogs enjoy. My DH walks ours twice a day in our local woods, fields etc, long enough for them to enjoy it and come home to breakfast/ dinner and a good old snooze. This is when we do ‘human’ things eg shopping, eating out.

Dogs inside is disgusting.
Fair enough there are some cafes that let them in.. as there are other cafes that don't so you can just choose according to your preference. And the food and drink is on the tables or kept safe in the kitchen or behind a counter.
IMO clothing shops should not let them in as the stuff they are selling is just out.. so the dogs can sniff and lick it and brush past them. It's disgusting. And you can't just go to another shop if the thing you want to buy is in that specific shop or chain of shops and they allow dogs.

The way people allow their dogs to behave sometimes is extraordinary. I wouldn't even allow my toddler to be touching things in a shop. People don't want to buy something that's been mauled by a kids sticky hands or kicked by a dog.
I've more sympathy for children being out and about tho because it's less easy to leave them at home!! And they need to learn as they will be using shops for the rest of their lives.
Why does a dog need to be in a shop? It's totally ridiculous.

I’m going to Hitchin tomorrow, what’s the shop?

Yes, your item was spoiled due to the shop policy of allowing dogs, so I'd have insisted on a fresh item!

And I'm a dog lover & owner.

The market forces decide whether they exist or not.

And as we have outlined many dog friendly cafes don't survive and we have given our thoughts as to why that might be.
Maybe the owners are crap at running a business eg giving too much free food to the dogs, or maybe the dog owners sit for hours with one cup of tea. Who knows. We are just saying we won't be spending our money there.

But businesses will cater for the majority. In some holiday destinations, like The Lakes, the majority of a cafes customers may own a dog, versus a tiny percentage who are allergic to them. They obviously can’t refuse to allow dogs in, just on the off chance they might have a family who are allergic to dogs visit their cafe.

I don't know if typing it will get me in legal trouble or something... but the initials are TWC and they sign is white and black

I personally hate dogs in indoor spaces especially when I’m eating but I also said upthread :

We need clear signs on every shop and restaurant so everyone knows where is dog free and where is dog friendly. I feel that would be fair for everyone.

Another issue which I’ve also said is it’s increasingly rare in some areas to find places which consider those of us who don’t want dogs around. Every coffee shop /cafe except costa in my town is dog friendly and I’m hearing that Costa now accepts dogs so I’m not even sure if there’s that.

But this applies to everything in life sadly. Although I sympathize, people with allergies isn’t necessarily a reason to stop people taking their dogs to places. Or for places to stop serving certain foods etc etc.
My husband has a terminal neurological disease and increasingly can’t tolerate noise. We had to leave a cafe recently due to some appallingly behaved children screaming and running into him. There were asked to leave by the staff eventually. But people like my hubby aren’t a reason to ban kids and noise from cafes.

I knew it! 😏

You are barking up the wrong tree on mumsnet OP

You're unreasonable for not standing up for yourself. Yes that's disgusting but if you meekly accept it, that's on you.

I don’t have kids, but I find it gross and weird how many people rush to compare the idea of banning little/younger humans ie. Kids, from indoor spaces as if it’s the same as banning animals 🤦🏽‍♀️ it happens on every thread about dogs being a nuisance.

Yes, I know they’ll cater for the majority. Not arguing that.
The point of my post was to remind people who think nobody will be irritated by their dogs that some of us quite literally will be irritated! Dog allergies are no joke. And following on from that point, that a dog doesn’t have to be poorly behaved to cause issues…

Also, apparently roughly 8% of people are allergic to dogs (to a greater or lesser degree). Add in friends and family who accompany them and it’s not tiny numbers we’re talking about.

Clearly businesses are not suffering because you decide to stay away. All the dog friendly cafes round here are always very busy, so wouldn’t be bothered about losing your custom. And, let’s be honest, there’s a lot of cafes around, (half empty may I add) which don’t allow dogs, so there’s enough to keep us all happy…or do you want every single cafe in your vicinity to not allow dogs, whether you choose to use them or not?

It can be hard to react in the right way when put on the spot with this kind of terrible behaviour, often we react automatically by being meek & placating the aggressor!
Yes it would have been better had OP stood her ground but not everyone has the knack! (we could all do with learning it I agree).

But yes Op please stand up for yourself next time. It’s understandable if you weren’t able to in the moment but It’s not too late to write a strongly worded email to the head office of the store or wherever you send complaints.

I hate the "but what about if it was a guide dog???" brigade. Many people have pointed out how well trained guide dogs age already, but even if they weren't, it's just completely different.

If from time to time it so happens that a guide dog pisses on someone's shopping, then I think that's a reasonable thing to accept in return for the fact that the guide dog is enabling a disabled person to leave the house and have some independence.

On the other hand, I don't think anyone should have to accept their shopping being pissed on just because some idiot thinks it's cute to drag an animal round places they have no interest in being, usually because they can't be bothered/don't want to deal with their dog's separation anxiety.

Irrelevant anyway since a trained guide dog really isn't going to piss on someone's shopping, but whatever.

Sigh*

Clearly they are suffering because several of us have literally seen them close down.
Being busy does not necessarily equal being profitable if the head count includes non humans and the spend per head is low.

I'd have asked for an exchange.

I think I would have insisted on speaking to the Manager and asked for the item to be exchanged, which I think would have been reasonable.

Absolutely not true. At least not where I live. Cafes are starting to allow dogs due to it increasing the footfall through their doors. Most dog owners are out and about on walks on the weekends, and so often utilise the cafes during their walks. Whereby families increasingly stay indoors, as they can’t prise their children away from their devices long enough to get them outdoors. This was clearly portrayed during the last couple of snowy weekends at our local park (with dog friendly cafe). There’s a slope which I remember back in the day would be hugely populated by families taking their kids sledging. When we were there, there were just a couple of families there on their sledges. So sad to see.