Why don't American stores and businesses allow pets to come in with their owners?

Question

In Europe I observed dogs in grocery stores, department stores, casual restaraunts and buses and subways. In the US we can't bring our pets anywhere. People bring their dirty children in and they get into everything and bother people so why is everyone afraid of germs from pets? People put babies with diapers in shopping carts and on tables in fast food restaraunts. Babies are not exactly the cleanest , wearing their toilet on them. Most pets I have observed were better behaved than the humans. If they are on a leash or in a cart, they aren't going to bite anyone without they provoke or tease them, which in that case, they deserve it.

to the person who said you can leave your pets in the car, first of all you should never leave a pet in a car, even with the ac running and if you walk to the store, you have no car to leave it in.

about doggie doodoo and stuff, I can tell you that I have seen children pee on the floor in the store and have found dirty diapers thrown behind store displays, not exactly clean.

as far as being allergic, it's funny because I am allergic to cigarette smoke but people still smoke at busstops and outside.

It's obvious that no one here has every worked in retail because I can tell you people are every bit as dirty and annoying as animals. Kids with runny noses and cough and people opening packages and knocking everything down.

Answer 1

The reason is simple: European dogs are better-behaved than most American children.

Answer 2

I love dogs and other animals too, but if I owned a store or if I was renting a house I wouldn't allow animals. Not necessarily because of the cleanliness issue, but just because they can be seriously annoying.

For example, if you bring your dog into a grocery store or restaurant, it would be smelling all the foods, other people, and not to mention it would wag its tail and knock stuff off the shelfs too.

Most people think that other people's pets are annoying, so respect society as a whole and leave the dog at home.

Answer 3

I often wonder why people feel they should bring their pets with them everywhere they go. I think this may be a problem- weather,driving, parking, etc.

Also, I am not comfortable with big dogs around. I am a petite person. A big dog could overwhelm me.

Those are personal reasons.

I think most businesses and restaurants may be leery about allowing pets- mostly for liability reasons. All that would be needed would be a bite or attack on a customer and that business would be sued.

You are right about children and cleanliness, however. I have seen some very sloppy and messy children come into the library where I work. The parents aren't all that clean, either.

I think the main reason is fear of a law suit.

Answer 4

There are places where you are allowed to bring your pets. Pets-Mart allows pets at all times.
I live in a small town and have a very small dachshund, and have taken it into K-Mart and the smaller grocery store here. No one has objected. Try it and see if the friendlier store have an objection. I take a newspaper with me to line the bottom of the cart and my dog is very friendly and loving.
Some people (and children) are allergic to pet, so take that into consideration.
Very small people (like babies) can't really be compared to animals

Answer 5

Most UK stores now only allow guide dog/hearing dogs, not sure about the rest of Europe.

Having been in some very cramped stores, not sure they are the ideal place for dogs or other pets and even I would not like to try and clean a doggie doo doo of a shop floor which has carpet, and it would smell.

Answer 6

I do not think animals should be allowed in stores, what about people who have allergies and who are eating and do not want a dirty dog by them , even though your dog is clean doesn't mean every ones is, and who is to determine at what point a dog is not clean when you could only smell it at 1 foot and not 2feet from you?
also what about barking, meowing, birds chirpping, or when they fluff up and feathers go all over.
lets not mention bitting...when people say their dog doesn't bit ..my answer to them is you! Your dog will more than likely bit someone else or jump over other people..what about kids or other animals
leave you pets at home where they belong..no one wants to pet them or thinks they are cute..and definitely doesn't want them walking though a dept store brushing up against the clothes or see them licking themselves while i am trying to eat...but hey this is just my opinion.
by the way i have seen dogs bite people or attack other animals without provocation

Answer 7

Because of the health codes we have here. We are more strict. The only places you can bring a dog with exception to any store is a seeing eye dog. But at petco you can bring your dog,cat or any pet in.

Answer 8

I tell you what, most people do not bother to train and socialize their dogs and if they brought them to a store it could be chaos and damage caused to store merchandise and annoying and disturbing to other customers. A further point, many places don't allow renters to have pets because pets destroy property and renters do not care if they destroy what is not theirs. Some dogs are unruly without provocation. In the US you CAN take your pet out. I take my mom's labrador downtown, she went to obedience classes, now she's learning agility and, I take her for walks. She is a luckier dog than most who must stay at home all the time in their backyard!

Answer 9

In restaurants and stores it's against the health department rules to have any pets besides service animals.

Also, many people are afraid of dogs and would be horrified to have to shop with them about.

I have found that many owners aren't responsible and don't keep their animals under control so I'd not trust them in public.

Perhaps, if you like being able to take your dog everywhere with you, you should consider moving to Europe.

Answer 10

Germs, allergys health codes and untraniable animals like my dog who would go nuts trying to eat everything in a restaurant. Barking at the emplotees.