loose dog in small local Sainsbury

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.

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.

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.

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!

But there is a Food Hygiene Law which could be broken

There is no law in the UK preventing dogs from going into any shop. It’s up to the owner or manager to make that decision.

Yes, Wyllow3 - thanks for that. I was aware there was a distinction between the officially trained assistance dogs (not just for blind or deaf people) and the 'emotional support dogs' which anyone could just claim to have, but that sets out the clarification very well.

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.

I worked in supermarkets most of my life. No problem to me, dogs are way cleaner than humans. They are not rude staff and believe me people are not always clean.

Indeed. As long as it wasn't cocking its leg on the aisles. Also as it seems like an exception is made by the store for this person. Person to person disease transmission is more significant than from dogs - who don't walk out of public toilets without washing their paws. People spread filth everywhere.

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.

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?

Totally agree 👍

That's really bad, avalon123 - by law, assistance dogs must be permitted into shops and taxis, but I have heard of more and more being refused entry. I think the current fad for 'emotional support dogs' (as opposed to actual guide dogs) probably doesn't help the situation at all, as almost anyone could claim their dog fitted into that category.

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).

I never assumed other people would love my children.

I am always curious as to why dog owners insist/assume that folks will love their dogs 🤷‍♀️

Wyllow3

Sainsbury guidelines - just checked.

"No, generally you cannot bring dogs into Sainsbury's stores, with the exception of assistance dogs. Sainsbury's, like most major supermarkets in the UK, has a "no dogs except assistance dogs" policy."

The problem is that someone then needs to enforce that policy. I always believed that was the case for most, if not all shops - but clearly not. It should be a no dogs rule - with the obvious exception of 'proper' assistance dogs (not the 'emotional support dogs' that seem to have become something of a fad nowadays). But there's little point in having rules if no-one is prepared to enforce them.

I rest my case Caleo.

I agree dogs should never be in shops; so I'm ashamed to admit one of mine was.

Retired racing greyhound, perfect gent. We'd been walking on the beach (offlead) when the sound of distant claypigeon shoot triggered him to take off at 35 MPH (his racing speed) Out of sight in minutes.

I trawled up and down the beach and dunes in vain and decided to head home incase he'd taken himself there. As I reached the village someone shouted to me "Your dog's in the Co-op". And there he was; surrounded by a crowd of fans and graciously accepting caresses, praise and treats supplied by the staff. The staff said " He turned up at our door on his own, waiting to be tied up as usual but you weren't here so we asked him in."

I’ve never known a dog ruminate either Caleo, too driven by their baser needs 🙂

Sainsbury guidelines - just checked.

"No, generally you cannot bring dogs into Sainsbury's stores, with the exception of assistance dogs. Sainsbury's, like most major supermarkets in the UK, has a "no dogs except assistance dogs" policy."

Kate, I absolutely expect you would love my dog as he loves everybody unconditonally

It's not a question of pearl clutching. It's good manners. Dog owners know that generally speaking dogs are not allowed in supermarkets but there's always someone who has to push the boundaries. The 'my dog's different, lovely, clean' etc. people. They simply can't fathom why not everyone agrees with them.

There is a strict no dogs policy in Wetherspoons as discussed on here previously. Last week we were in one for tea. A man was sitting with a small dog inside his coat but visible. This was a big man and he was eyeing staff almost daring them to say something. They didn't. The manager of that pub could have been in trouble if this had been reported. That man knew the rules but obviously didn't think they applied to him. Love me, love my dog. Well some of us don't actually.

I’m not sure dogs are any more disgusting than small children. Remembering when mine were small they were quite likely to have their hands down their trousers/up their noses at any point during the day. I frequently see small children picking up fruit/veg/bread and then putting them back. In fact I’ve probably bought stuff that has been handled by grubby little infants and have managed not to catch anything yet.
I wouldn’t take my dog into a food shop as he is ruled by his tummy but it really doesn’t bother me. Other countries where it is more acceptable don’t seem to suffer mass epidemics.

They don't seem to lick bums in Romania. My last dog licked his bum however I have great, perhaps misplaced ,faith in the hydrochloric acid in my stomack. Also my time on Earth is too short now for me to worry about getting worms.

Rosieand her maw, I ruminate a lot but don't chew any cud. People can call me a cow online although they never have and I don't mind although insults are ad hominem when one is trying to have a decent discussion. I have never met a ruminating dog as they all have gone for what they immediately desire without conscientious reflection