40 years? Hardly. Actually even 10 years ago people didn’t bring their pets to public places. People knew better. And no, your stat of over 50% of Villagers own dogs is made up. If you need to bring your dog to the Squares, restaurants and stores, you need to seek psychiatric help.
We were at Sawgrass last weekend and some polite dog owners actually had their dogs sitting on the new cushion couches. After all, who doesn’t like some unwanted dog hair and feces from a dog’s butt to sit down and relax in? Simple rule: your dog, your home. People aren’t anti animal, they are anti rude people who don’t know when and where it’s proper to bring an animal.

People have been bringing dogs to public spaces a lot longer than 10 years ago and will continue to bring them to public spaces. My husband and I enjoy bringing our dog with us where he is allowed. If they are permitted, it is not rude! Don't like dogs in public spaces simple rule you can stay home!

Seek help, you missed all the major points.

I agree with you. Can you start working on that?

and why do you need a 40 ft leash.:shrug::shrug::shrug:

I do not need any help, and will continue t bring my dog to public spaces where he is allowed. I was at Sumter yesterday with my husband and the dog. There were many well behaved dogs walking around with their owners. Many people asked if they could pet him. The highlight for Ziggy was Haagen -Daz s Cookies and Cream Ice Cream.

You shouldn’t get on the subject, I didn’t have a pet when we lived there but if you think your comment will banned pet owners from bringing their pet there good luck!

When my dog is in public spaces, I use a four-foot leash!

What????
 

This is about the most stupid reply I've yet to see! The "slippery" slope doesn't even make sense! How does stepping in "fluffy's" poop equate to stepping around grandma's cooler? The first is TOTALLY unacceptible and gross..the latter isn't even an inconvenience. We are dog people and we don't want dogs there...or the market...or Lowe's. Unless they are true "Service" animals (not companions) LEAVE THEM HOME! That panting you see? It's STRESS, not happiness...they don't want to be there! There's not really a dog problem, there's a human problem.

Greiner’s Fine Apparel for Men, 405 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala.

Dogs cannot sweat. Panting is how they cool their body.

dogs gone wild
 

there is a time and place for everything. Dogs do not belong in the squares and for that matter in your shopping cart at Walmart. BTW I love dogs

maybe we could all just learn to get along & not freak-out over any little thing that strikes our fancy? maybe if we didn't like it, we wouldn't have to look @ it? maybe if we didn't like that band or that dog we could all stay home in a tiny little plastic world where everything looks just so & is non-contrary to what the person believes? :posting: awful post, terrible thread from a newb

That's your opinion that they do not belong at the squares, and I disagree. The squares are open to the public and there are not pet restrictions. I will continue to bring my dog to the squares.

Dog poo
 

Did they clean it up?

Well said!

The things you sarcastically mentioned are a normal part of being in a crowded social gathering. watching a dog Sh*t, smelling dog Sh*t, watching people handle dog Sh*t, and the potential to step in dog Sh*t are not. You used a fallacious Apples/Oranges non-argument to shame OP- who had a perfectly valid point about not wanting to interact with dog Sh*t while out enjoying an open-air gathering of people.

Oh geez. I want to post your exact words a day or so ago, but I wimped out.

Thanks for not wimping out!

I haven't been to Sawgrass yet, but it sounds like the open-air atmosphere there is allowing hallucinogens to permeate the entertainment area.

Look it up. Statistically speaking, dog ownership in The Villages is likely between 45% - 55%.

Ban all who haven’t been living here for the past 3years :cryin2::censored:

You’re kidding, right? 🤔😂

Geez 🙄

Dogs at the square
 

Stop Complaining about the dogs! It’s not them causing havoc at the squares. Mine loves music is is perfectly content to sit and listen. She loves being among people.
It’s the people who are drinking and stepping all over people when people are dancing. It’s the grandchildren who are running through the square and dancing under people’s feet who are dangerous to seniors who may not be steady on their feet anymore but still like to dance. It’s the people saving seats so no one else who are handicapped can’t get a seat. Maybe they should all stay home. Do I really believe this? No , but the tolerance of these people who post these posts need to be evaluated. Stay home if you don’t like it. People with dogs are just as entitled to use the facilities as any of you are . This is an outdoor venue and should be treated as such

I have had a number of dogs over the course of my life? I noticed that they did not like loud noises, thunder, sirens, fireworks, auto backfires, people screaming or making loud noises (loud music fits that). My dogs also reacted to other stimuli as well. Children running and screaming, other animals, food smells, etc. I saw how my dogs reacted in large, noisy gatherings and they would get over stimulated and want to play, trying to run around and jump and chase and bark. Not always a good scenario, especially with big dogs. My dogs were better off at home, in their own territory, stable and comfortable, with food and water as needed.
So, yes, I make this up in my head (as opposed to pulling out of my a--, like some) after careful observation and consideration.
Guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
But, I do agree with you that some people have no clue, but I don't think we would agree on who those people might be.

There's a wide gulf between an outdoor square and a market.

As for Lowe's, don't patronize their stores if you don't want to encounter dogs. See? Very simple.

As most folks will acknowledge, a dog's behavior is usually a result of its owner's influence and training ... or lack of.

Have you noticed that families with badly behaved dogs, usually have unruly kids.
Kids and dogs need the same basic training!
Sit, shut up, and stay !:)

I agree about the shopping carts at grocery stores. Dogs do not belong in them. Nor do children.

How many times I've seen kids sitting or standing in grocery store shopping carts? Lots of times. All I can think of is all the "stuff" on the bottom of kid's shoes that gets transferred to the shopping cart. What about all that "stuff" on the bottoms of dog's paws? Then shoppers put their groceries in that same "dirty" cart then take those groceries and put them in their refrigerator and pantry. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

Very funny and true.

You are not alone.

My particular favorite, is standing in line at Dunkin' Donuts, while someone wearing their pajamas, sets their snotty kid up on the counter.

That is bad, but once witnessed a lady (did I say "lady"?) change her kids dirty (poopy) diaper on the table in a coffee shop. She did not take the kid to the restroom to clean and change the kid. She seemed totally oblivious to the scene around her. The smell was terrible. We made a very hasty retreat. As we passed the waitress, she seemed frozen in shock at what she was witnessing.

You need to take a test to get a Driver's License ... anyone can have a kid.

Yes it sure is ! I doubt it will ever end. It's difficult at some neighborhood pools (not all pools) where the grassy area around the pool is used exclusively for dog excrement. Really hard to take on a hot summer day, but, the villages seems to have done it's best to provide the dog folks with dog parks. Most also have their own yards, so it is difficult to understand why these folks can just let their dog relieve themselves in their own front or back yards first, then take them on their trips to the squares, restaurants, and pools. Seems easy to remedy, but, obviously not. We had so many dogs for our children when they were growing up, sometimes two dogs at a time. Never once, not even one time, did we, or our children, take our dogs to a neighbor's yard, or to a stranger's yard several blocks away, to "deposit". The attitude at the villages was really an eye opener from other places we've lived. Watched a woman with two dogs last week. She walked two of them, and I notice she always picked it all up in plastic bags (large dogs sure fill those bags ). I watched and thought, well "at least" she has the decency to pick it UP...doesn't help the home owner much as the acid is deposited, but it looked better than leaving it all over like you mentioned at the squares (same thing at LSL..step carefully around the area by the ice cream shop, boat rides, etc.) Well, my relief that she was at least not leaving the excrement and suddenly I see her toss all 4 bags UNDER the bushes at the entrance to a villa area. Guess she didn't want to take those precious "gifts" (sorry for the sarcasm, but this is supposed to be all mature adults here, right ?) home to her own yard ? Rude people all around the world, we just seem to be a rude magnet here I guess ! ? Not going to let it ruin my life, but it's hard sometimes. Don't go barefoot or let your grand kids go barefoot around some of the pools... Bonnybrook is a major one to get a "surprise" in the grass. It seems to be an official dog park, so, no sense getting too upset, just have to live with it. Many people, including a relative of ours, can't bare to even go to the grocery for a couple items, or go fill the tank with gasoline, without their dog. Cat people seem to be able to leave their pets for a short time, able to shop without them, got to restaurants without them, but dog owners, like our relative, who does not have PTSD or any kind of condition, just feels it is unfair to leave her dog at home, so takes it everywhere. We don't understand why she can't even meet us at Culver's for an ice cream without the dog, but she says "his feelings would really be hurt, and he'd punish me for a week for ignoring him".... so ? what can you say ? Some one jokingly (I guess?) said, dog included and dog free villages would be a good idea, I chuckled, but maybe that would be a great choice for people ?

I do know that dogs are not allowed in the dance area, but that doesn't stop people from dancing with them there. Nor do they belong on that nice furniture at Sawgrass.

Had no idea so many truly detest children, by the posts in this thread. Hopefully most chose not to have children.

I did chuckle about families with untrained dogs usually have unruly children… please when was the last time in TV you saw dogs with kids running rampant in the grocery. Parents with kids have the good sense to leave their dog at home, because they need all the space in the cart for groceries:popcorn:

Are you that "needy"?
 

I had dogs most all of my life.
But I have never been so emotionally insecure that I had to have my dog by my side 24 hours a day.
Maybe you should go see Dr. Phil, he may be able to help you.

This escalated quickly. In before the lock!

My sister loves her dogs, but doesn't bring them to the square. :shrug:

Jim Kerr, from NY? SAG? Metropolitan Club? Longshot but are you that Jim Kerr? We met at the Friars. I do not believe they allow dogs in though I did see Joan Rivers bring hers in multiple times.