"I'll wait here. Don't forget the biscuits!" Photo: alui0000/Flickr
This year, as Paw Nation reported, Portland made Rent.com's top-ten list of pet-friendly cities. But the hip hub of the Pacific Northwest might get a little less dog-crazy, reports the New York Times.
In the last year, the Oregon Agriculture Department has gotten 600 complaints about pets traipsing through food stores. In response, the NY Times reported, the state is waging a controversial anti-dog campaign, plastering posters inside some 4,500 stores that sell food. The posters will remind pet owners that, aside from animals are trained to assist the disabled, their four-legged friends aren't welcome in the deli section (or even in the soda aisle).
In Portland, a large majority of businesses are welcoming to dogs, Schneider said. She takes her golden retriever Ellie with her almost everywhere -- even to shop at the cosmetic counter of a nearby department store. After seeing two different dogs inside her local supermarket recently, she decided to bring Ellie along on a grocery run. The second time she tried it, though, store managers politely informed her it was a no-no.
"It didn't offend me at all," she told Paw Nation. She said she understands the rule is meant to protect public health. But there are people in her neighborhood who carry their toy pooches with them everywhere inside chic purses, toting them along to grocery stores and restaurants, she said. How they will respond to the new campaign is anyone's guess.
The topic has stirred up a lively debate on Schneider's website. One dog lover posting under the name Iconoclast commented that Portland should focus more on unruly children than unruly pets. "As much as we might talk about dogs peeing in aisles of stores (something I have never witnessed myself,) we should recognize that people's pets are, for the most part, much better behaved than children," he wrote.
Still, Schneider says most of her friends aren't troubled by the new campaign. If the city tried to ban dogs from other shops and businesses, though, there would be protests, she said.
"I think the bigger issue is if it comes to some other kind of law that's much stricter," Schneider told Paw Nation. I wouldn't even want to think about what would happen if it started to get more intense."
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
I am sorry but I would rather be around a well behaved pet in ANY store than a screaming misbehaved child. So the pet is in the produce isle, which would you rather have someone's pet poodle there or a child with snotty grimey hands digging through the apples and other fruit. I have seen it happen.
I agree with you Justme. The dogs, large and small I know are so much better behaved than most children. especially when they get near the candy rack by the cashier. When my family and I go out to eat we ask for a child free zone. I' tired of spending good money on dinner and having other peoples rotten children come up to our table, or throw things to us, or just screaming ruin it for us. Yes, I have grown children and young grand children. Remember everyone needs to ask for a " child free zone" or else the parents of rotten children can start paying my dinner bill!!
Thank you Justine for telling it like it is. Clean, well-behaved dogs are far more appealling than grimmy kids and the care-takers who refuse to watch or correct them. As far as the restaraunts with screaming kids, my philosophy is: if you choose to have children and they are unruly or misbehaving, then correct them. If they continue to misbehave, TAKE THEM HOME! I am tired of parents who think that they are the only ones in the restaraunt and igore their children's bad behavior. I have been so fed up with misbehaving kids, I have spoke up and corrected the child. This usually snaps the parent into correcting their children.
You are exactly right. I would rather have animals around me than someone's dirty brat.
You are part of what is wrong with the United States of America. The life of a souless dumb animal (they don't speak any language so by definition they are dumb) is more important to you than that of a child. Would you suggest DNA testing to find out if a child had unruly genes? Abort if it did?
To "Justme" You couln't have said it better and I agree with youwholeheartedly. I would add cell phones being more of a pest too.
You need to chill! Dog or kid, it's not a huge deal!
HOW RUDE WHAT EVER HAS A DOG DONE TO YOU ???? DOGS GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ARE TRUE TO THEIR MASTER'S.
Wow...There are people afraid of dogs, people allergic to dogs... A child is a human being and therefore has the right to be where animals do not. How a child is raised, etc. is another issue in itself. If there are stores that crop up to accommodate animals and animal lovers, fine, I don't have to go there. However, I don't see why you feel it necessary to bring them into "normal" department stores, etc. People like you just don't get it and clearly never will. You have lost your common sense...that's if you had it in the first place.
DOGS RULE. irresponsible parents who allow their children to run wild in a sore or restaurant should be thrown out.
I agree with Justine. I have grown children but today I would rather see any dog at any store or restaurant (they do it in Europe) than a child with runny nose touching anything at any store, specially when they sit behind you at a restaurant and keep wanting to touch you over your shoulder and parents think this is cute.
I'm sorry i don't want anyone's pets near my food.Let's get a grip on this one.It's not a need to have to bring a pet where there is food.It's a want.The 2 are totally different
Wow really you don't want animals near your food hope you are a vegan. Well never mind they use cow manure to fertilize their fields. K well hope you are not hungry..........
sorry, should have been store not soree
I totally agree with keeping dogs away from food and what not. I love my dog and she is as clean as a dog can get but no matter how much I brush her, she is always shedding (one of the few corgi downfalls).
If I ever go on my road trip I will definitely check out Portland!
I think I left part of my email address off. Been waiting for confirmation to my comment but haven't received it yet.
There wouldn't be the snotty little children you are all complaining about if parents were allowed to discipline them without fear of legal action.
It is not against the law to wipe your kids nose and wash hands...why would you get in trouble? Good excuse for having a nasty little pig pen. Guess we know what your kid looks like! I do think people get in trouble for neglect!
RIGHT-ON
i love my chihuahua and take her a lot of places. she will fit in my purse so she won't bother other people. but i refuse to take her to a grocery store. my sister takes her pom into stores and we fight over this constantly. i've seen people hold their dogs over the meat bins and ask what they wanted. i saw one lady that was trying to disguise her dog as a baby and was so distracted she knocked over all the produce. i don't need dog hair in my food and don't need dogs sitting in shopping carts where i put my food. some people are allergic, some are scared of dogs and IT"S AGAINST THE LAW. it's just rude to take them around other people's food.