AIBU to want cafes to be dog free after grandchild was bitten?

[OhSoTrue]

What to do? Took my 12 year old gc into a cafe for lunch today, and a dog
snapped her ankle as we walked by. It drew blood. No idea why it picked on her.
She did nothing beyond walking in the door.

The dog owner 'fled the scene' as it were. Made a hasty exit while he had the chance and everyone was looking at the injury.

Wouldn't it just be better if we kept dogs out of what really should be an exclusively human area?

The argument that "they are allowed here so suck it up" is wearing thin.
We are all very fed up of your dogs in human spaces. The vast majority of us would prefer a dog free space.

Says who? Anecdotal I know, but my members' club (gym plus spa/golf/conference centre type place with forest grounds and with a lake in the grounds - just trying to give background that it's not just a gym where having a dog would definitely be weird but that the grounds do lend themselves to being dog-friendly) did a survey two years ago and asked members if we'd wish for them to lift the ban on dogs. A resounding 95% said NO! Thank goodness. I had threatened to leave if they allowed dogs, as the reason I pay over the odds to go to this gym as opposed to the cheaper one is in great part the policy against dogs.

Despite this, they then decided to trial a one-day dog event, and so many people complained (me of course being one), that they cancelled it. Good.

I don't have a dog. I'm really confused about all the posts mentioning smelly dogs though. All animals smell, including humans. I've never noticed dogs smelling so much that they make the whole cafe smell unpleasant though.

Good for you for checking in advance and finding somewhere more suitable to your preferences

It’s down to the dog owners! But I would love seeing dogs in cafes and everywhere but they must be trained

Yes it’s a personal choice and they are availing of the options available to them when dining out etc.

Going to cafes is also a personal choice, why not go to one that doesn’t have dogs?

Well I’m back from a nice cafe brunch with friends and my 5 month old puppy. After going back up to the counter for a second coffee the owner expressed surprise I had a dog with me and said how well behaved he was and that he hadn’t made any noise. It had been busy with quite a few dogs when I went in, one other dog was barking a bit but they soon left. 3 different families came over and asked to stroke him while I was there. He slept most of the time under my chair and then we went for a walk in the park next to the cafe. He’s had a lovely day out.

Maybe this should be the same for some adults then!!! Who abuse kids and dogs and anyone

I mean, it’s impossible to have a debate I guess if you don’t believe the stories that people report.

In the USA, people tend to sue when this sort of thing happens, and that places some onus on the restaurant to regulate the presence of dogs, as it's the restaurant that controls whether they allow customers to bring their dogs in there.

I presume you don't have rabies in the UK? A dog biting a child and then running off with the owner would be a big problem here.

As a dog owner - Report to the police. If you haven't? Stop whining. It makes you just as complacent if you haven't. It's likely the dog needs to be put down, if it is biting. Once it draws blood, they get a taste for it. I've handled many dogs.

After reading the rest of your posts - I feel a bit sorry for you. No social media, dislike dogs, making a blanket opinion for everyone when it comes to dogs in social places (I am a germaphobe and dislike dogs up in my face while eating.) You, however appear to be harbouring a lot of bitterness and anger. I'm just gonna pat you on the head, nod, smile, and pity you as I walk away from your snottynose-fest. I hear Waitrose have some naice hankies on sale. Dog pattern and social media branding free.

Bless your delicate little socks.

My workplace voted against dogs being allowed in.

I think some dog owners, because they attract other dog owners who come up and stroke their dogs, they seem to think that everybody in the world likes their dogs! My kids like many other kids, were typically cute toddlers and people used to come and chat. I absolutely did not take that as evidence that everyone liked children and thus I made sure that they were with me and well behaved at all times.

Did the person attempt to clean it up, or report it to the driver?

I wondered what shops let the dogs in!

We go to France every year, and take our dogs on holiday. Other than some beaches, they have been welcomed everywhere. We knew they would be because we’ve always seen dogs in restaurants and cafes… (been going since we got married, 30 years ago).

And vice versa

No, we don’t.

Seriously, I wish more people would follow your shining example…

It’s very easy to find out in advance if establishments won’t allow dogs. Just look it up in advance rather than rocking up and then bitching that dogs are there - everyone else is perfectly happy with it because we are in a dog friendly establishment.

Why should the successful business owners change their model based on your particular views?

Out of curiosity, would people mind if they went to see their GP, and the GP’s dog was wandering around the room?

If you ‘very much doubt it’ , then clearly the OP is lying 😂.

I like dogs; I take my dogs in cafes; I don’t agree with what the OP is suggesting, but your post is based on nothing but speculation. I’ve seen dogs go for ankles!

Sorry what?

Personally, I’d find it comforting, and that’s because we’re all different.

Which is why there are dog friendly, and non dog friendly restaurants.

It can't be good for those with dog allergies to have dogs in shopping centres brushing past clothing etc.

I don't like dogs in cafés and restaurants. And I very much doubt they do either. But it is what it is.

I agree with you OP. I hate it. (To be clear: I don't hate dogs...just the fact that they seem to be allowed everywhere and many owners are very selfish and disrespectful.) It is not any dog's fault.

I am disabled and either use a wheelchair or walking aids, it is very obvious that I struggle to walk. I've had to stop going to our local park where dogs are supposed to be walked on leads (prominent signs saying so) as owners ignore them, let their dogs off the lead and they let them approach, run around my feet and cause issues. Three times we've got into verbal alterations with rude owners who seem to have a problem with this, despite the fact I am obviously struggling. The last time, it was an off lead dog that ran up behind and bashed into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. The owner didn't care.

People used to care about being respectful but now, even with clear rules, they don't care- they have no idea what it's like to struggle to walk or move or how disconcerting and upsetting it is when you're trying to navigate moving around a dog you don't want near your feet.

This is just one example. The only thing we asked the owners to do was to call their dog back and keep them away from my feet... each time we got a torrent of abuse back.

People are so entitled about their dogs.

Because of it happening so frequently, I can no longer go out with my children alone, in case they can't manage the dogs that come up or in case I do indeed get knocked down. I've, in essence, become a bit of a hermit because the only place close enough to walk to is full of entitled owners who think their dogs are more important than other people's needs. If I haven't got my partner with me or a friend who is confident enough to manage dogs and deal with rude owners, I can't go.

A bit off topic from the OP but the way people are about their dogs now has made my life so much worse but I really hate just how pervasive it has become in the last few years. We won't eat in establishments that allow dogs inside and we often choose to go to places that dogs can't go to because we can't trust the owners.

I really wish something could be done about it.

No. Dogs can smell cancer and probably other diseases too.