Tarazet

Where I go, my dog goes!

So on the very day I start up Tarazet, USA Today has a front page feature on folks who take their dogs where ever they go. I have no problem with that. I wish cats were as obliging. Apparently, a lot of dog owners wish other people were so obliging as well. Here's a quote:

Not everyone is laughing. It used to be the world was divided into two groups: dog people and cat people. There was no common ground. Like smokers and non-smokers. But now it seems the canine world is dividing even further: dog lovers who want their pet to be part of every party, and those who don't want them around at all.

Blame it on aging and fawning baby boomers filling their empty nests with man's best friend. Or President Bush, who takes his Scottish terrier, Barney, everywhere. Dogs have become the newest accessory. You only have to look at the travel site DogFriendly.com to see that your dog is now welcome far and wide.

I hate to bring up a country like France but at least they allow your dogs into most places of business.

And I have to tell you, when someone comes into my furniture store with a dog, I'm actually HAPPY to see and greet the dog. Dogs are always welcome to visit my store but that is the exception, not the rule around the U.S.

Here's another quote:

A bill has been introduced in the Maryland Legislature to permit dogs in Maryland restaurants — at the restaurant owner's discretion — but there has been little support for the measure. Letters to the editor of The Baltimore Sun are overwhelmingly against it.

Patti Moran, head of Pet Sitters International, the North Carolina-based group that promotes Take Your Dog to Work Day, appreciates everyone's concerns, but she also understands dog owners' need to be with their dogs. She has five and takes them almost everywhere.

"We tend to treat our pets as surrogate children, so it's only natural you want to take them with you," she says.

Or as the Pet Sitters International Web site proclaims: "Some people don't like children of the human variety either, but you wouldn't leave them alone at home."

By the way, this was "take your dog to work week" and I wonder if any of you did? Or do you do that all the time? Two of my best friends take their dogs to work at their law office and college office.

Look, I suppose there are people who just won't accept dogs anywhere, much less a restaurant or hotel. I'm sorry for them. I've generally found pet owners nicer and friendlier than non-pet owners but maybe that's just me. If I worried about every pet-hair or flea in this world, I'd have no time to worry about terrorists trying to bomb and kill us... I'll take the dogs hanging out everytime.

I do think though that in a public place like an eatery or store, dogs need to be well behaved, not "oderous" and etc.

Posted by Jeff at March 26, 2004 09:50 PM