loose dog in small local Sainsbury

Naughtyneine

Yes in normal circumstances you would think the dog would be on a lead/harness but if the disability was a mental rather than physical one then maybe the young man wasn't able to comply with the norm.

Then it's not an officially recognised assistance dog.

ViceVersa... It still maybe but the person it's assisting is not able to make it aware that it is by putting a harness/lead on the dog and the staff are aware/ have been made aware of the situation.

I'm aware that in my particular local park the huge majority of dog owners are really responsible, ie good judgement about on/off leads and their individual dogs, and areas designated dogs on leads.

I think Sainsbury's have made good judgments overall about dogs in supermarkets, support dogs only.

In the rare case of someone claiming its a support dog when it isn't known if it is officially, I think common sense is to insist the dog is on a close lead.

I honestly don't know about small shops except to "hear"what people have said about allergies. A very difficult one. but surely "on the lead" is a common sense rule?

I spoke to my sis who is a retired doctor and has always all her life had 1 to 3 dogs and she doesn't take them in shops simply because she knows that some people are afraid and potential hygiene issues.

My DS is very allergic to dogs , my DD has two dogs as do most of his friends. He says he has to take an antihistamine most weekends and if his children come home from being with their friends all their clothes are taken off and washed . It is a big problem for many and worse nowadays as so many more dogs around . He has investigated being de sensitised but apparently not possible as it’s very time / labour consuming and risky 🤷‍♀️. Does anyone know if this is the case ?

Naughtyneine

ViceVersa... It still maybe but the person it's assisting is not able to make it aware that it is by putting a harness/lead on the dog and the staff are aware/ have been made aware of the situation.

I think still that to be classed as an assistance dog, there has to be something to signify that - or else anyone could just walk in with a dog and claim it was an assistance dog.

Of course I agree with that in theory ViceVersa but in everyday situations - which really won't be that many - possibly the O/P example is one - insist on a close lead, even keep some behind the counter.

Our local little Sainsbury's is in an area which warrants a security guard who stands at the door. I've seen dogs tied up outside near him.

Naughtyneine

Yes in normal circumstances you would think the dog would be on a lead/harness but if the disability was a mental rather than physical one then maybe the young man wasn't able to comply with the norm.

Clutching at straws.

Or he was just getting away with it simply because he could and doesn't care about rules and consequences - but there are rules and limits set by Sainsbury and the O/P is very reasonable to object.

My son has an assistance dog for ptsd.

They both have to pass a test every year to show the dog is still trained and doing his job. The dog has to wear a harness that clearly says he is an assistance dog. My son carries a card with the dog’s photo and details to show he is an approved dog

Music girl.. That was a little offensive..
I don't need to clutch at straws as it wasn't me that walked into Sainsbury's with my dog. I was just putting across a possible different scenario..

@Naughtyniene, l was not intending to be offensive but you were making a lot of assumptions/reading things that were not in the OP. As others have said, assistance dogs have to wear clearly marked harnesses. It’s quite a leap to suggest that someone you have never met might have such terrible mental health problems that he needs an assistance dog but cannot comply with the rules. I think Wyllow3 hit the nail on the head.

I've had dogs all my life but when we got our 2 spaniels I became allergic. I even used to nap on the sofa with our last dog with no problems. Now I take cetrazine almost every day and that sorts out the symptoms - repeated sneezing, eyes itchy and watering, runny nose, violent coughing fits.
If I haven't taken a tablet and a dog stands next to me this is what happens.
I can sympathise with people who have allergies and would never take mine into food shops. It's just not the right thing to do.

I like dogs but don’t have one. Just wondering, if the dogs are so unhygienic to have them in restaurants, and shops where there is food, are they not also going to be unhygienic in the home?

grannybuy

I like dogs but don’t have one. Just wondering, if the dogs are so unhygienic to have them in restaurants, and shops where there is food, are they not also going to be unhygienic in the home?

At least in the home you can limit where your dog goes, keep it off the sofas and chairs and don’t leave food where they can sniff at it or lick.
I wouldn’t not want a dog for hygiene reasons but am not like some dog owners who are slaves to their dogs whims .

I will admit that dogs do have some unhygienic habits in the home, but damage limitation can be achieved if you put in the effort.
However, I've had eight dogs now over 40+ years and I can honestly say I've never been ill once because of the dog, nor have my children.

escaped

I will admit that dogs do have some unhygienic habits in the home, but damage limitation can be achieved if you put in the effort.
However, I've had eight dogs now over 40+ years and I can honestly say I've never been ill once because of the dog, nor have my children.

Yes, we have had dogs our whole life and none of us have ever been ill because of them. I cannot imagine my life without a dog in it. The six months during Covid lockdown between losing our old boy and getting our new pup were the longest we'd ever been without one, and the house felt so empty.

But oh dear the Chinese Whispers of Gransnet.
OP describes a regular customer (age and appearance unspecified) at a Sainsburys Local shop - the equivalent of a corner shop these days, not exactly a supermarket - who comes in accompanied by his dog (the breed is irrelevant- would a pedigree Spaniel or Shih Tzu have been OK?) and apparently not for the first time according to the "young man" on the till. Is the "young" epithet meant to indicate incompetence? Would an "old man" or "middle aged woman" have reacted otherwise?
Now we have a "young man, possibly with MH issues or PTSD with an assistance dog who not wearing a harness because his owner might be unable to fasten it" and a "loose dog" , an unhygienic animal spreading ringworm and "fungi (sic) or triggering allergies in the other customers.
I don't like dogs in shops, largely because I don't think dogs enjoy shopping and I also think it is not a dog's place,but I also don't like seeing dogs tied up outside shops and dog thefts are a scourge.
There was a time when prams were left outside shops when it was difficult to take a pram inside, largely because of their size. Nobody leaves a baby or toddler outside a shop now for obvious reasons (despite what the wheels might have picked up from the pavements outside).
So why the palaver?
When did outrage replace common sense?

Unfortunately, common sense doesn't appear to be very common these days!

I think the "young cashier" had the most common sense. Don't get involved. Blank look probably the safest option! 😆
It's up to the offended customer to contact Sainsburys Head Office, or the Manager.

I don't feel outrage and am generally dog friendly and love to watch them in the park or have a cuddle with my sis's dog

but do object to dogs in shops not on leads just wandering round as a general rule.

Seems to me to be common sense -

open places like parks or beaches have guidelines because not all owners are as responsible as people posting on here - so enclosed spaces especially with food in

- whats the problem with shops being equally sensible?

One man regularly goes into the shop accompanied by his off lead dog. What if 10 customers decided to go shopping accompanied by their on or off lead dogs, would that also be acceptable?

Rosie51

One man regularly goes into the shop accompanied by his off lead dog. What if 10 customers decided to go shopping accompanied by their on or off lead dogs, would that also be acceptable?

Yes, exactly!

Rather a quiet dog than unruly teenagers thieving and swearing

Unruly thieving, swearing teenagers with dogs

That is a fallacy. Just because one scenario is worse than another does not mean either is right.