loose dog in small local Sainsbury

But there is a Food Hygiene Law which could be broken

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202505/medium-6igvzo-skynews-dogs-labradors-shoplifting-6564481.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202505/medium-2jz3p0-43521701-0-image-a-56-1622125017289.jpg

Woof! That's dinner sorted!

Sorry if you knew already Vice Versa.

Whats needed is clear guidance as to how it's recognised with "hidden disabilities" which of course includes those dogs who are trained to spot an episode of oncoming epilepsy and some other conditions. But I assume they would be on a lead.

Wyllow3

avalon123

A friend of mine who is blind usually gets banned from supermarkets when he has his dog with him even though they are permitted. He also gets taxis refusing to take him because he has the dog with him (again, this is actually against the law). I think the kind of prejudice shown in the above replies only makes life harder for people with assistance dogs.

FWIT I have had multiple dogs all my life and I have never caught any kind of disease from any of them (unlike humans).

That's very bad form as regards assistance dogs. Great lack of understanding Avalon

I had to look up the guidance Vice Versa as there are official trained assistance dogs for psychiatric conditions which is different from emotional support dogs.

here is the page (interesting if its all new to you as it was me)

www.assistancedogs.org.uk/information-hub/assistance-dogs-emotional-support-dogs-and-therapy-dogs/#:~:text=In%20the%20UK%2C%20disabled%20people,to%20provide%20comfort%20and%20support.

specifics

"Emotional Support Dogs"

While there is no doubt that an assistance dog provides companionship, an emotional support dog is a dog that offers comfort and companionship simply by being present, which requires no specialist training.

Emotional support dogs and highly trained psychiatric assistance dogs are not the same thing. A disabled person who relies on a highly trained assistance dog to mitigate a mental health condition should be given access to good and services.

My friend is blind and does not have an "emotional support dog". Therefore this kind of guidance is not relevant. I am concerned about the amount of prejudice shown to people who genuinely need their assistance dogs to help them in everyday life with practical tasks such as shopping, crossing the road and going from one place to another without a car.

My friend has been thrown out of supermarkets times without number for having his dog with him.

As this kind of behaviour from shop staff is endemic nowadays I am surprised that organisations such as RNIB do not run campaigns about it.

What a storm in a teacup. So many far worse things going on in the world. It's dog central here in France and for the most part they are well behaved. Far.less likely to catch anything from a dog than a human. Yes, there are rules here but if course the French ignore them. Quite right too. The Brits are getting sooo precious. Man up and stop being a big girls blouse. It's wonderful to have a dog in your life.

annifrance

What a storm in a teacup. So many far worse things going on in the world. It's dog central here in France and for the most part they are well behaved. Far.less likely to catch anything from a dog than a human. Yes, there are rules here but if course the French ignore them. Quite right too. The Brits are getting sooo precious. Man up and stop being a big girls blouse. It's wonderful to have a dog in your life.

My dog allergy has put me in hospital multiple times, are you as flippant with nut allergies, lactose allergies etc?

GG Our daughter is allergic to dogs too and she likes dogs.

annifrance I think you omitted to add 'in my opinion' to your last sentence.

cosyathome

I was in the queue in a local smallish Sainsbury when a medium sized mongrel wondered in accompanied by a man I only saw from the side and back. He paused near the fruit and veg section then carried on. The dog was not on a lead.

I asked the young man on the checkout why did no one tell him to leave? he said he comes in here with his dog all the time he’s ok.
I persisted with the ‘I didn’t think dogs were allowed in stores near food’ blank looks, shrug.

wandered in !

For heavens sake! What a fuss! It’s a local dog and a regular visitor with its owner. Not doing any harm obviously or the staff would have had a word with te owner

Dillonsgranma

For heavens sake! What a fuss! It’s a local dog and a regular visitor with its owner. Not doing any harm obviously or the staff would have had a word with te owner

Exactly- but some people can’t see a teacup without looking round for a storm to brew in it

Move along - nothing to see here

If dog is in supermarketit should be on a lead. Last year I was in a store and a dog started to poo. The owner was totally unaware as he was rummaging shelfs. I pointed it out to him, he did clean it up and take the dog outside. One and only time I've seen a dog disgrace its owner. How about dogs in pubs? Been going on for years and food is served in them.

It is not a stupid trend! I appreciate you are scared of dogs so pick somewhere they are not allowed. I love dogs but I do understand as I am terrified of birds and they are a lot harder to avoid as they are everywhere.

What worries me is the current popular pastime of trying to get people into trouble/sacked from their jobs etc. a few things , taxi drivers can refuse to take assistance dogs if the drivers have an exception certificate eg if they have allergies (they are humans too and some have allergies/asthma and being closed in a car with a dog may not be good). Drivers obviously don’t want to lose time cleaning hairs from the car for the next customer (who may have an allergy) so some drivers will refuse pet dogs (without an assistance dog certificate) but will accept assistance dogs (with a certificate) who should sit in the footwell. Dogs should not be in food shops but if I noticed one I wouldn’t react at all. I would not take mine into a food shop (or any shop) but I also would never leave them outside to be stolen/poisoned/fed random food by passing persons either nor would I leave them in the car on a hot day. If people want to dress their dogs up (I don’t) and the dog doesn’t mind then I don’t mind. Nothing wrong with a puppy/Labrador dishwasher prewash. Live and let live. I have many things more important to waste my time worrying about unfortunately.

RosieandherMaw

Did the dog sniff/lick/wee on the food?
I can’t believe the pearl clutching at such a trivial incident.
“Dog in local small Sainsbury’s ?”
Shock, horror!
Is this really worth even mentioning?

I agree 💯

Caleo

I am keen on control of infectious diseases, yet it seems to me that humans are a lot less hygienic than dogs in food shops.
I gave seen humans behaving less hygienically in food shops than dogs. Also, do you really believe men always wash their hands after they have a pee!

This world is basically an unhygienic place, and dogs cause a lot less trouble hygiene-wise than humans.

I agree

That's fine then. We'll just suspend all rules. No point in keeping to them. Makes you wonder why they were set in the first place. Oh wait...

Pattypee

Has anyone mention that dogs get stolen from outside shops? Not a dog owner myself but would rather dogs (and small children! 😊) were brought into a shop rather than run that risk.

Then leave the dog at home.

I'm with you Rosie!

Calendargirl

Pattypee

Has anyone mention that dogs get stolen from outside shops? Not a dog owner myself but would rather dogs (and small children! 😊) were brought into a shop rather than run that risk.

Then leave the dog at home.

Easy innit!!

GrannyGravy13

annifrance

What a storm in a teacup. So many far worse things going on in the world. It's dog central here in France and for the most part they are well behaved. Far.less likely to catch anything from a dog than a human. Yes, there are rules here but if course the French ignore them. Quite right too. The Brits are getting sooo precious. Man up and stop being a big girls blouse. It's wonderful to have a dog in your life.

My dog allergy has put me in hospital multiple times, are you as flippant with nut allergies, lactose allergies etc?

Having a son with a serious dog and cat allergy which caused him to be blue-lighted to hospital on one occasion I understand where you're coming from. My son is not 'a big girl's blouse' and if annifrance had ever witnessed a child of hers gasping and struggling for every breath perhaps she'd have a smidgeon of sympathy. I have a granddaughter with nut allergies who has to have an EpiPen constantly on her person, but I expect annifrance would rather she 'man up' too.
The blue light occasion was when we were on holiday, in a rented cottage that stated strictly no pets. The entitled let before us had smuggled their fur-baby into the property. The property owners were aghast when they heard about our son.

All I would like is to know that there are totally dog free restaurants, bars, coffee shops, supermarkets and shops so that I can leave my home without taking copious doses of medication just in case

I can avoid dog friendly establishments if I know where they are which saves the NHS money along with the stress on my family and friends and the toll it takes on my health when I come into contact with dogs.

Simple’s…

Rosie51

GrannyGravy13

annifrance

What a storm in a teacup. So many far worse things going on in the world. It's dog central here in France and for the most part they are well behaved. Far.less likely to catch anything from a dog than a human. Yes, there are rules here but if course the French ignore them. Quite right too. The Brits are getting sooo precious. Man up and stop being a big girls blouse. It's wonderful to have a dog in your life.

My dog allergy has put me in hospital multiple times, are you as flippant with nut allergies, lactose allergies etc?

Having a son with a serious dog and cat allergy which caused him to be blue-lighted to hospital on one occasion I understand where you're coming from. My son is not 'a big girl's blouse' and if annifrance had ever witnessed a child of hers gasping and struggling for every breath perhaps she'd have a smidgeon of sympathy. I have a granddaughter with nut allergies who has to have an EpiPen constantly on her person, but I expect annifrance would rather she 'man up' too.
The blue light occasion was when we were on holiday, in a rented cottage that stated strictly no pets. The entitled let before us had smuggled their fur-baby into the property. The property owners were aghast when they heard about our son.

My DD has been hospitalised with a cat allergy and she is allergic to some dogs too.

Bukkie

I don't think dogs should be in ANY shops or eateries. It's unhygienic. I am terrified of dogs and the places I can go have been drastically reduced in recent years because of this stupid recent trend. What about people with allergies too? Mind you having a dog seems to bring out the selfish streak in people who don't care about anybody who doesn't love their pooch.

I couldn't agree more..! In my local town, the only pub/restaurant that doesn't actively welcome dogs is Wetherspoons..!
I've seen people giving their dogs their plates to lick, and allowing them to sit with their paws on the table 🤢 This has meant that if I want to eat out, it's fish and chips by the river - or Wetherspoons with lots of drunken men....
I can't understand why hygiene inspectors don't crack down on this...!!! 😠

To those with dog allergies, how would you cope if there was a service dog present where you were? Genuine question, by the way, I'm not having a go at anyone. Say for instance you had to go to a hospital appointment, but there was a blind person with their dog in the waiting room?

ViceVersa

To those with dog allergies, how would you cope if there was a service dog present where you were? Genuine question, by the way, I'm not having a go at anyone. Say for instance you had to go to a hospital appointment, but there was a blind person with their dog in the waiting room?

I would have to tell whoever was in charge and ask to be seated elsewhere, whilst taking an immediate large dose of antihistamines.

In a hospital/GP/dental situation this has always been possible.