[Happinow]

Since I am a non pet owner, can someone enlighten me on something? I'm not posting this to be negative or a smarty cat, I just wonder if someone knows the answer. Yesterday while in Sweetbay, we noticed a man with a dog in his shopping cart. It was a small dog so he had it on a blanket in the top front part of the cart, the area you would put your crushables like eggs. The dog had. Service thing on him. (Sorry, I don't know,what these are called) It seemed odd that a dog would be allowed to be in a shopping cart. I went to the manager and asked why the dog would be allowed in a shopping cart and he said they are not, but when they tried to communicate with the man they realized he was deaf. They were not able to communicate that the dog was not allowed in the cart so they let it go. My question is....what could a little dog do for this deaf man that he had to bring him into the store? The dog cannot communicate for him and the dog doesn't know sign language. So why wouldn't one leave a pet home,that to my knowledge, cannot assist him with disability? Is it a comfort thing? I just wonder. Thanks for the insight.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Since I am a non pet owner, can someone enlighten me on something? I'm not posting this to be negative or a smarty cat, I just wonder if someone knows the answer. Yesterday while in Sweetbay, we noticed a man with a dog in his shopping cart. It was a small dog so he had it on a blanket in the top front part of the cart, the area you would put your crushables like eggs. The dog had. Service thing on him. (Sorry, I don't know,what these are called) It seemed odd that a dog would be allowed to be in a shopping cart. I went to the manager and asked why the dog would be allowed in a shopping cart and he said they are not, but when they tried to communicate with the man they realized he was deaf. They were not able to communicate that the dog was not allowed in the cart so they let it go. My question is....what could a little dog do for this deaf man that he had to bring him into the store? The dog cannot communicate for him and the dog doesn't know sign language. So why wouldn't one leave a pet home,that to my knowledge, cannot assist him with disability? Is it a comfort thing? I just wonder. Thanks for the insight.

He could have other disabilities that the dog could help him with. We never know by looking at anyone what kind of disabilities a person has.

[BettyCrocked]

How Do Service Dogs Help People With Disabilities?
Service dogs for the deaf can save their lives. Just because the dog does him no good in the grocery store doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to be there.

[DonH57]

I've noticed just about everytime I've been to Lowes lately I've seen a small breed dog in a shopping cart with a seat cushion for comfort. When we lived up north in Massachusetts or Ohio it's common to see larger breed dogs like labs and sheppards in Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply or even Agway. Beats me why they do. It doesn't bother me anyway.

[kittygilchrist]

I think the store should enforce their policy re: dogs in the cart. My BS meter is going off the scale suspecting that this dog owner is playing games.

[graciegirl]

Happinow, I don't know. I know that dogs make me feel happy wherever I may see them, and snakes and geckos not so much. I love babies in carts and always ask if I can just look at them for a minute.

I have been kindly offered a wipe by a sweet shopper at Publix when I entered the store and got a cart, but I am not worried about people germs or dog germs and have sort of a quasi scientific belief that as long as I am in good health touching things with germs on them builds my immunity.

I know that in many places in Europe dogs accompany their owners to eat. I know that many people are afraid of dogs AND cats and do not like them around them.

The older I get the more I see and the less I know.

[blueash]

The dog may alert to the sound of a honking car horn or a siren to let the owner know of a danger that the hearing person detects but a deaf person misses. Now whether this skill is important within a store .... but it would be useful while the owner walked from his car through the parking lot thus he has to take the dog into the store or tie it to the front door, not really an option

[Parker]

I have read that some folks use the 'service dog' explanation so that they can take their dog anywhere they want without harassment. You can order fake service dog paraphernalia on the internet. Easy peasy. But smarmy, if you ask me. REAL service dogs are a wonder and deserve everyone's respect and admiration.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by Parker

I have read that some folks use the 'service dog' explanation so that they can take their dog anywhere they want without harassment. You can order fake service dog paraphernalia on the internet. Easy peasy. But smarmy, if you ask me. REAL service dogs are a wonder and deserve everyone's respect and admiration.

This guy was deaf, he clearly had a problem. I doubt he would be one to get fake papers to take a dog inside.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Bonny

This guy was deaf, he clearly had a problem. I doubt he would be one to get fake papers to take a dog inside.

Respectfully, how does one know another person is deaf? I would have used sign language as a test...but I have a background rehabilitating disabled peeps.

[lightworker888]

Perhaps he was an epileptic and the dog would warn him of a coming seizure. Perhaps he needed to be alerted to fire alarms or some other less dramatic audio alarms or situations.

From my perspective, Gracie is correct about keeping your own immune system up so that anybody else's "germs" won't bother you. That is why we all don't get the "flu" or "outbreak" of the day when it is going around.

I use a dog stroller if I have to take the dog anywhere. And I don't take a dog into a grocery store. But a service dog has a right to be there whether we can understand why or not.

LW888

[kittygilchrist]

Online Service Dog Certification and Materials
This is a high priced package. All you really need is a vest.

[Happinow]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have no problem with a disabled person bringing an animal wherever they go, but the grocery cart should be for our groceries....it's a germ thing for me. He could have had him on a leash walking beside him and it would have been different. I am glad these animals are so helpful to humans who need them.

[duffysmom]

Happinow, shopping carts are full of germs. Think about meat and fish pkgs leaking. The other day I noticed a woman putting her unpackaged veggies in her cart before she went to get a plastic bag. YUCK! What about babies in diapers sitting in the cart. The only way to avoid germs be it doggie or human germs is to be in a full body condom.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Happinow, shopping carts are full of germs. Think about meat and fish pkgs leaking. The other day I noticed a woman putting her unpackaged veggies in her cart before she went to get a plastic bag. YUCK! What about babies in diapers sitting in the cart. The only way to avoid germs be it doggie or human germs is to be in a full body condom.

LOL! I love swabbing down with those wipies. I start with me!