If you're allergic like I am, it would be a pretty miserable experience. No thanks.

Without pets as insPAWration... we'd be in a pretty tight squeeze. I used to work in an art gallery and brought my dog along there as well... because most people visiting the gallery were tourists, he was a welcome surprise for those who missed their own pets. I found it actually helped sell art, because it gave us something to talk about instantly.. everyone loves to brag about their pets!

If the allergic need not apply, they are violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. If animals aren't essential to the business (like at a vet, or pet groomer) then asking employees to have the common decency to leave their animals at home falls well within the legal definition of "reasonable accomadation". Of course, the ADA only applies if there are more than 15 employees, which supports the author's comment that this policy is better for a small company.

Andrea - perhaps the customers who stayed in your store liked your animal, but do you know how many people will turn around and spend their money elsewhere if a store doesn't respect its customers enough to provide them a safe shopping environment?

Be aware that the law does not require service animals to be labeled as such (the gear is costly and many people with disabilities have financial limitations). Any business representative may ask if the animal is in service, and may legally ask what service it performs, but a general answer of "He assists me with a medical condition" should suffice. Businesses are not required to allow dogs in training if the handler does not require the service performed. And many small dogs are excellent medical alert dogs (seizures, diabetic emergencies, etc.), as they are bred to be very attentive to their owners, are cost-effective, and are comfortable in small living situations. Just because someone has a little dog in her purse doesn't mean she's sneaking a pet into the store. Denying entrance could mean a lawsuit under the ADA; as well as lability for any injuries suffered in the store for lack of warning from the dog (e.g., having a seizure, falling, and hitting her head).

I love animals, but in my experience they're a distraction in a workplace environment. If a person and their pet can't be apart from each other for 9 or 10 hours, then I think that's a problem.

If you wouldn't bring your child or spouse to sit in your cubicle all day, then please don't bring your pet to the office.

We have a cat in our office. People, including myself, are severly allergic to it. I sit in a cubicle so I don't have the luxury of closing my door to keep her out. I wheeze and my eyes are bothered, but what can you do besides quit and find another job and in this economy....the cat is worshiped here. She has free roam of the place and if anyone were to complain, Im sure you'd quickly find yourself without a job.

I'm lucky in that I can take my dog to work when I need to and so can my partner. My dog's severely stressed by thunderstorms. Most days he stays home happily but somedays it's just not feasible. I understand not taking animals into stores regulated by the health department or resturants but we have found plenty of patios in the summer time and our friends don't mind joining us. I have also run into plenty of small businesses, from stores to offices where a pet is part of the team. Pets have been known to have many theraputic benefits but they aren't for everyone and must be well mannered or they distract more than they help. As people try to integrate their life more because of the demands of work, pets will become more commonplace in work and other aspects of life. If you don't like it, don't patronize those places.

In general I don't have issues with dogs, being a multiple dog family. However, I definitely have issues with them being brought into any business that sales or prepares food, as I work in that industry. I think too many people take advantage of the "don't ask, don't tell policy regarding service animals and they should never be allowed to take animals into supermarkets or eateries.

Common sense should tell you that first you should respect your fellow humans, and then worry about your 4 legged friend. The fact that many people are equipped with insufficient common sense or respect is why we have laws to prohibit behavior such as bringing pets into places they do not belong. And yes I do love dogs, it's a subset of selfish or clueless owners that annoy me. So if you are a customer and want to take your dog with you, go to Norms for dinner and a beer. Or any other business that has made it very apparent that they actively welcome dogs. And if you are an employee, never take it to work.

I resent that dog owners feel like they are entitled to bring their pets everywhere they go, that everyone else is obligated to put up with them. Dogs in a grocery store are rude and unsanitary and if I see one I will complain to the manager.

I love animals too, but bringing them to public places is severely rude and inconsiderate to other people.

Any jerk can purchase a colorful "service animal" jacket for their dog on eBay. I've seen many people claiming their pet is a "service animal" when it's quite clearly not the case. Of course, I have no problem with that when it's legit, but it seems like it rarely is these days.

I also have worked in businesses where "pets" (i.e. dogs) are allowed, and found it to be a major distraction not only for the dog owner, but also for the people around them. I could care less if your doggy is scared of thunder storms. Just say "no" employers!

Finally, I hate seeing dogs in coffee shops and grocery stores too. (Again - it's rude!) If I see employees not taking action, I often email management about it later.

Ok, if you can bring your dog to work then I can bring my toddler. Fantastic! To even the score, though, I'll have to make a few adjustments. In lieu of a wet nose, I'll soak a sponge in cold mucous and attach it to her hand. Hopefully she'll hit some bare skin with it. I'll dip her feet in her own urine and allow her to walk in her feces (with long toenails, of course, to trap more matter), then let her trot around the office. Speaking of toenails, I'll give her a garden claw to scratch you with. I'll have to find something to treat it with (poison ivy?) so that you can get a rash just like I do every time your dog touches me. Instead of a tail I'll give her a filthy feather duster and instruct her to knock over as many things as possible with it. For general filth, I'll empty a full vacuum bag into a feather pillow and get her to shake it around the office. Isn't she cute? I swear I bathed her a week ago!! Get used to it - it's the wave of the future!!!

Figure it out - it's understandable if your dog isn't offensive to you, but please consider the fact that he/she likely is to someone else. I promise not to plant poison oak in your planter if you promise to leave your dog at home.

I've brought my husky/malamute mix female in to my workplace several times. She lays down quietly in a corner and watches or naps. Same thing she does at home. No one has a problem with it. And if they do, they can leave my work area and stick to their own space. Just like you, bw,. I guess my dog is just smarter and better trained than your children.

Bringing a dog into a supermarket (other than a legitimate service animal) is unsanitary and impolite to the other shoppers. Stores which allow this could be found in violation of the health codes relating to their business license. It seems a shame that these selfish dog owners would put the grocery owners at risk like this, and that the employees would, too.

As "Dr. QuickBooks & Quicken - I make house calls", a pet-friendly Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor in the Greater Seattle area, about half of my small business clients have or allow companion animals in their workplace.

I've learned to extend my hand to the many friendly dogs, cats, and other pets when I come to their home offices or business sites to solve their problems.

In some cases, I have worked with the client while stroking the small pet as it rested in my lap or at my feet. Cheaper theraphy than drugs.

Based on comments that I have heard, my willingness to accept animals in the workplace got me the assignment in the first place.

I enjoy having the animals around as I help them set up their company's files in their accounting and bookkeeping software, review what they have done themselves (doing it yourself doesn't always mean that you did it right), and train them or offer personalized classes on how to effectively use their financial management program (I call it teaching them how to fish or make Tofu if they are a vegan for themselves.)

And I don't have a pet myself.

I now have to phone ahead to businesses I want to frequent, to find out if pets are allowed in the establishment. You'd be surprised by how many businesses don't allow anything but service animals, but rude ass pet owners feel they are special, and bring their animals in anyway. Thank goodness for the U. S. Postal Service, which strictly enforces its no animals in the lobby policy!

Pet owners say they are "kind, caring people", but what they really are is another faction that feels they are special, and so are their pets. Grow up! Your pets are animals, not humans, show some respect for the human race!

For some, animals are more affective than drugs.

Commenting on the comments that say they understand why businesses who deal with food cannot have dogs. I don't understand this at all. If anyone should be banned from businesses wi food, it should be children with runny noses & coughing adults. You don't get a cold or flu from a dog. You get it from the spread of human germs. There are very few communicable diseases you can get from a dog. Many that you can get from a human. I am alter-abled & have a service dog with me at all times. Everyone loves & wants to love on my dogs. The quickest way for me to get sick is to have a sick person pet my dog. I have to be alert at all times, sometimes to the point of rudness, to advise the person petting my dog, that the dog is a working service dog, not a therapy dog who I bring in for their personal therapy. Of course I just smile & tell them politely. But at the end of the day, it gets so tiresome that I mostly give in & my service dog becomes everyone's therapy dog. But can you imagine what my face would look like if I just say "no" all day long? So I am torn between being the reluctant educator of the public re service dogs, being friendly and letting people have their dog fix. Not to say that I don't enjoy these interactions. The thing about having a dog with you is you are never alone. I have met more nice people who come up to me & want to talk dog. So its a mixed bag. When I'm focused on getting through the cashier & people think they have the right to interrupt me or pet my dog without my permission, it can be annoying. Additionally, it confuses the dog. The dog is trained not to go to someone without permission. but if I'm focused elsewhere & someone is petting my dog, the dog does not have permission, cannot remove herself, then I have to do extra training, unconfuse the dog, & learn to be better at multi tasking at the cashier. I do notice & my heart is warmed when I hear parents explaining to their children that they can't pat the dog bcs she's a working dog. I always thank them when I hear it. Enough said to make my point.
In my business the dogs do have the final say on hiring. They have always been right. When I go against their judgement, I have always been wrong. I think dogs are an excellent strees reducer in the work place but they should be trained & minimally have a CGC. Allergic people should be warned up front that this is not a good work place for them. Reasonable accomodation is a 2 edge sword. Difficult to make a judgement. People wi allergies should be accomodated. So should people wi high blood pressure. So how do you accomodate everyone? I don't know. I guess just put it up front before hiring. My ads say Must love dogs to apply.
Reasonable accomodation is what I googled to find this forum. I requested "reasonable accomodation" from Walgreens. I am unable to walk at this time. All the stores I frequent know me & my dogs. I am the originator of GiantSchnoodles. See http://GiantScnoodles.com I have requested thier help in shopping. Smart & Final, MailBank, Pet People, WalMart, Henry's, Home Depot all are most helpful & friendly. I call in & they run my order out to the car. The only one I've had trouble with is WalGreens. I do a lot of business there.Lots of meds. stop in 1 or 2 X per week for milk, dried fruit & other items. However the manager refuses to let his staff temporarily run my prescriptions out to my car for me. It is soooooo frustrating. They spend an enormous amount of money to get customers in the door. Then they get a loyal customer who uses a lot of meds & they treat her like that. I'm talking about the manager of the store only. The front line staff is great! For quite awhile, I would joke to people. I'd say "I love my walgreens. They p=ss off so many people that I don't have to wait because there are hardly any customers. " (Balboa & Genessee, San diego.) Well now its gone a little too far. Gotta run oops I mean wheel out to find another pharmacy. Oh well, the good thing is that I'm Glad to have found this blog.
Puppy love from Inventing Joy & the furry folk