[Catalina36]

Dogs, Puppies or any animal. DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUTDOOR EATING TABLES. Yesterday Saturday 9/19/2026, My wife and I were at Sawgrass Market Square. We went there to have lunch and listen to the excellent entertaimant. There are a lot of tables located in the center area. High top tables and low tables. We easily found a high top table available. Sitting there I noticed a table with 2 couples seated and their puppie / dog, I believe it was a boston terrier puppy was laying on top of the table. Now Really, people are eating and drinking at these tables. Are you that self centered and have no regard for others that you place your dog lying on top of the table. This situation was going on for more then a hour that were there. The worst part was when the woman took the dog outside the area to do it's business and returned and placed the puppie / dog back on top of the table. We left thinking how some people have total disregard for others. Perhaps, The Villages needs to put someone there from Village Entertaiment Security to monitor the area.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Catalina36

Dogs, Puppies or any animal. DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUTDOOR EATING TABLES. Yesterday Saturday 9/19/2026, My wife and I were at Sawgrass Market Square. We went there to have lunch and listen to the excellent entertaimant. There are a lot of tables located in the center area. High top tables and low tables. We easily found a high top table available. Sitting there I noticed a table with 2 couples seated and their puppie / dog, I believe it was a boston terrier puppy was laying on top of the table. Now Really, people are eating and drinking at these tables. Are you that self centered and have no regard for others that you place your dog lying on top of the table. This situation was going on for more then a hour that were there. The worst part was when the woman took the dog outside the area to do it's business and returned and placed the puppie / dog back on top of the table. We left thinking how some people have total disregard for others. Perhaps, The Villages needs to put someone there from Village Entertaiment Security to monitor the area.

I am a dog lover and have no issue with a dog in a restaurant but ON the table is a step too far.

[CarlR33]

The whole take your dog to the square or shopping thing is not going to stop anytime soon. We went to a local pizza shop in Leesburg with a dog sitting inside the corner and had a “support” collar on it and the dog did not appear to serve this function or was a bread that did. As I approached the only open section of the bar near the dog it started to bark and seem mildly“aggressive” toward our approach. The support owner actually had to pull the dog back and caution it to stop. I just do not understand why people cannot leave the dogs at home and stop stressing them out by bringing them into the public with loud music, hot environment and (to them) strangers all around. To me it’s abusive but the owners do not seem to understand this. Forgot the mention of a dog in the bag under your arm thing that is certainly not cruel. If your an owner do not listen to me simply educate yourself online. OP, next time take a picture and it can be a thread for a “caption this” thread.

[dtennent]

As a dog owner who has taken the time and effort to train my dog, I think people who buy the “support” label for their untrained dog are hurting the people who actually have service dogs. Since there is very little regulation in this area, there is not much you can do.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Catalina36

Dogs, Puppies or any animal. DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUTDOOR EATING TABLES. Yesterday Saturday 9/19/2026, My wife and I were at Sawgrass Market Square. We went there to have lunch and listen to the excellent entertaimant. There are a lot of tables located in the center area. High top tables and low tables. We easily found a high top table available. Sitting there I noticed a table with 2 couples seated and their puppie / dog, I believe it was a boston terrier puppy was laying on top of the table. Now Really, people are eating and drinking at these tables. Are you that self centered and have no regard for others that you place your dog lying on top of the table. This situation was going on for more then a hour that were there. The worst part was when the woman took the dog outside the area to do it's business and returned and placed the puppie / dog back on top of the table. We left thinking how some people have total disregard for others. Perhaps, The Villages needs to put someone there from Village Entertaiment Security to monitor the area.

That absolutely should go without saying. I'd add to that anyone who puts their non-service dog in a grocery store shopping cart, or even takes Rover to a grocery store, should have that particular activity immediately banned as well.

Problem is, most merchants are reluctant to rock that particular boat. About 3-4 years ago there was a moderate outcry (aided and abetted by The Online Paper That Shall Not Be Named) about non-service dogs in stores. For myself I don't mind them in (say) Lowe's, Home Depot, etc., but can certainly see that banning them in grocery stores should be mandatory. One of the Publix grocery stores where we shopped at finally succumbed to be pressure and put up a sign stating that non-service animals are not allowed in the store, however one evening I spied a rather large dog that a woman customer had on a leash, no sign or other insignia identifying it as a legitimate service animal, sniffing at groceries on the lower levels of the aisles, greeting other shoppers in a friendly manner, etc. I asked to speak to the manager, which I did: he seemed rather uncomfortable about the whole thing but said he would "take care of it". Which he did not: he never even approached the woman. 10 minutes later I watched the woman and her canine companion walk through checkout without anyone from the store--manager or otherwise--approaching her about her dog.

S.O.P. around here, unfortunately. Rocking the critter boat is apparently seen in the same light as losing customers, and merchants (judging from the number of dogs I see in stores) try to avoid that like the plague. No matter the sanctimonious signage they put up.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

That absolutely should go without saying. I'd add to that anyone who puts their non-service dog in a grocery store shopping cart, or even takes Rover to a grocery store, should have that particular activity immediately banned as well.

Problem is, most merchants are reluctant to rock that particular boat. About 3-4 years ago there was a moderate outcry (aided and abetted by The Online Paper That Shall Not Be Named) about non-service dogs in stores. For myself I don't mind them in (say) Lowe's, Home Depot, etc., but can certainly see that banning them in grocery stores should be mandatory. One of the Publix grocery stores where we shopped at finally succumbed to be pressure and put up a sign stating that non-service animals are not allowed in the store, however one evening I spied a rather large dog that a woman customer had on a leash, no sign or other insignia identifying it as a legitimate service animal, sniffing at groceries on the lower levels of the aisles, greeting other shoppers in a friendly manner, etc. I asked to speak to the manager, which I did: he seemed rather uncomfortable about the whole thing but said he would "take care of it". Which he did not: he never even approached the woman. 10 minutes later I watched the woman and her canine companion walk through checkout without anyone from the store--manager or otherwise--approaching her about her dog.

S.O.P. around here, unfortunately. Rocking the critter boat is apparently seen in the same light as losing customers, and merchants (judging from the number of dogs I see in stores) try to avoid that like the plague. No matter the sanctimonious signage they put up.

I would just add that there is no such thing as a "legitimate" service animal. Signs and insignias don't mean anything. The ADA law does not define a service animal, except to say that the dog has been trained (by anyone) to perform a task. That is one reason merchants are reluctant to enforce their policy. The ADA is a bad law.

[TheVillageGlossator]

Originally Posted by Catalina36

Dogs, Puppies or any animal. DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUTDOOR EATING TABLES. Yesterday Saturday 9/19/2026, My wife and I were at Sawgrass Market Square. We went there to have lunch and listen to the excellent entertaimant. There are a lot of tables located in the center area. High top tables and low tables. We easily found a high top table available. Sitting there I noticed a table with 2 couples seated and their puppie / dog, I believe it was a boston terrier puppy was laying on top of the table. Now Really, people are eating and drinking at these tables. Are you that self centered and have no regard for others that you place your dog lying on top of the table. This situation was going on for more then a hour that were there. The worst part was when the woman took the dog outside the area to do it's business and returned and placed the puppie / dog back on top of the table. We left thinking how some people have total disregard for others. Perhaps, The Villages needs to put someone there from Village Entertaiment Security to monitor the area.

Perhaps it would have been more productive to confront the offenders than write about their offending behavior on TOTV.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I would just add that there is no such thing as a "legitimate" service animal. Signs and insignias don't mean anything. The ADA law does not define a service animal, except to say that the dog has been trained (by anyone) to perform a task. That is one reason merchants are reluctant to enforce their policy. The ADA is a bad law.

That's not true. ADA specifically defines a "Service Dog".

ADA Requirements: Service Animals | ADA.gov

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

That's not true. ADA specifically defines a "Service Dog".

ADA Requirements: Service Animals | ADA.gov

Wrong. It is true. The only definition that the ADA states is that the animal must be trained to perform a task for the owner. And, anyone can do the training, even the dog's owner. The merchant cannot ask for any documentation or proof that the dog is a service dog. That is why merchants are reluctant to enforce their policy. How can the merchant prove that the dog is not a service dog? Also, they risk being sued by attorneys whose entire legal practice is to sue business owners for violating the ADA.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Wrong. It is true. The only definition that the ADA states is that the animal must be trained to perform a task for the owner. And, anyone can do the training, even the dog's owner. The merchant cannot ask for any documentation or proof that the dog is a service dog. That is why merchants are reluctant to enforce their policy. How can the merchant prove that the dog is not a service dog? Also, they risk being sued by attorneys whose entire legal practice is to sue business owners for violating the ADA.

That is untrue.

Read the definition.

The merchant absolutely has the right under ADA and Florida law, to ask: "if the dog is REQUIRED because a disability" and "what function is the dog been trained to perform".

Florida Service Dog Laws: Rights, Access & Protections (2026 Guide) | USA Service Dogs

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

That is untrue.

Read the definition.

The merchant absolutely has the right under ADA and Florida law, to ask: "if the dog is REQUIRED because a disability" and "what function is the dog been trained to perform".

Florida Service Dog Laws: Rights, Access & Protections (2026 Guide) | USA Service Dogs

So, the merchant can ask those questions, and the dog owner will say that the dog is required as a service dog. It doesn't even matter what task the dog performs because the merchant cannot even question the owner about why they need the service dog to perform the task that the dog performs or about the dog owner's disability. That is the ADA law.

Florida law has no bearing because it is superceded by the Federal law, which gives the merchant no way to prove that a dog is not a service dog.

[Rainger99]

It appears that Florida Statute 509.233(3)(c)5 would apply.

Dogs shall not be allowed on chairs, tables, or other furnishings.

This law should be brought to the attention of whatever entity owns or runs Sawgrass.

[Catalina36]

Originally Posted by TheVillageGlossator

Perhaps it would have been more productive to confront the offenders than write about their offending behavior on TOTV.

I wanted too, but my wife asked me not to make scene. You don't know how the ignorant people are going to react to some one asking them to get the dog off the table where people eat and drink. I posted this observation on Talk of The Villages with the hopes that maybe the ignorant people who I am talking about will recognize it was them and maybe next time they will leave the dog home or leave the dog on the ground next to the table. Thank You for Reading My Post.

[Moderator]

Moderator Note:

Please keep the discussion focused on dogs in public dining and shopping areas.

Disagreement over service-animal laws is permitted, but repeatedly responding with “wrong,” “not true,” or “untrue” without adding substantially new information turns the thread into an unproductive back-and-forth. Address the information being presented—not the member presenting it.

Posts insulting the membership have been removed.

Further repetitive or personal exchanges may be removed and result in thread closure.

[bsloan1960]

Recently at Brownwood Square I wanted to hear this: ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫. But there was a dog there so I heard this ♪ Bark bark ♫ ♪ ♫ Yip Yip ♪ ♫ ♪ Yap Bark Yip ♫ ♪ ♫ Yip Yip Growl ♪ ♫. The owner of this dog-child is one of the countless others here who can't bear to spend a couple of hours without their dog- don't care about those around them. No- I'm not a dog hater. I hate that people are so clueless as to not recognize that people want to attend people events... with other People. Most cigar smokers recognize that others find it nauseating so they'll smoke away from others- that's what good neighbors do. Most dog owners recognize that many people find the presence of animals where people gather to be objectionable so they leave them home- that's what good neighbors do. They think because 10 people make a fuss about their dog child that it is welcome- While 750 people did not make a fuss.

Originally Posted by Catalina36

Dogs, Puppies or any animal. DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUTDOOR EATING TABLES. Yesterday Saturday 9/19/2026, My wife and I were at Sawgrass Market Square. We went there to have lunch and listen to the excellent entertaimant. There are a lot of tables located in the center area. High top tables and low tables. We easily found a high top table available. Sitting there I noticed a table with 2 couples seated and their puppie / dog, I believe it was a boston terrier puppy was laying on top of the table. Now Really, people are eating and drinking at these tables. Are you that self centered and have no regard for others that you place your dog lying on top of the table. This situation was going on for more then a hour that were there. The worst part was when the woman took the dog outside the area to do it's business and returned and placed the puppie / dog back on top of the table. We left thinking how some people have total disregard for others. Perhaps, The Villages needs to put someone there from Village Entertaiment Security to monitor the area.