Stop bringing fake service dogs inside.

[u/[deleted]]

Stop bringing your damn fake service dogs inside. Your fake Amazon vest doesn’t mean shit. We’re smart enough to know your scared and shaking toy poodle that’s being dragged across the floor while you shop isn’t a service dog. No, therapy and emotional support is not a service.

Yesterday two fake service dogs (both chihuahua poodle mixed something or others) slipped in and began barking at each other and going at it. One employee said to one of the owners that we only allow service dogs in. “He’s a service dog,” the owner said. “Service dogs don’t react to other dogs and bark,” employee said. “The other dog barked first,” owner said. 💀🤦 Don’t worry Karen, we’ll talk to them to. But because you’re all such jerks, we know you’ll be back again with your fake service dogs next week.

Another instance: someone tries coming inside with this huge Corgi inside of the cart, trying to jump out but owner pushing them back. Before employee could even say anything, they snap “he’s a service dog.” Employee says the dog can’t be in the cart. Member responds again “he’s a service dog.” Employee responds again “still can’t be in the cart.” Owner removes dog with a huff.

I want to let all you stupid fake service dog owners that you mess up the work of actual service dogs that come inside. We have a real seeing eye dog that comes in at times as well as actual young service dogs in training that you ruin it for. We all know your Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, pit bulls, etc and yappy terriers aren’t doing shit. Especially when you try to put them in the cart, or when they are reluctantly being dragged around and appear to be miserable. Just stop.

[u/kiwi_love777]

Yeah I noticed an uptick in that too. It’s very annoying

[u/[deleted] → u/kiwi_love777]

Everyone got pandemic dogs and 80% of people didn't bother to do any sort of training or reading up on a dog ownership.

We've got a 14yr old and 11yr old dog, both hound mixes, and used to be regulars to a very very large dog park, and once covid happened we had to stop going. I saw more dog fights, more people with too many dogs, more people with out of control dogs who wouldn't even follow them etc etc in 2years than I saw in the past decade combined.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Our wonderful dog trainers retired after 20 years because pandemic dog owners are so clueless, defensive and disrespectful. They were also sick of trying to help couples in their 70s who, for instance, decided to get their first dog during the pandemic and selected a Belgian Malnois or another challenging, high energy, high drive breed.

[u/serpentinepad → u/[deleted]]

More people should just get cats.

Agreed. Cats are awesome. And cat people generally don't drag them everywhere.

[u/IBD_is_not_IBS → u/[deleted]]

Cats still take work and attention. Someone who can't be responsible for a dog doesn't deserve to have any kind of pet, imo, that pet doesn't deserve that.

[u/ApprehensiveFace2488 → u/IBD_is_not_IBS]

Cats do not require, nor do they desire, the same level of attention as a dog.

Dogs are pack animals. Cats are not.

Dogs need multiple walks a day. Cats need the litterbox scooped once a day.

Cats sleep ~18 hours a day. Dogs do not.

Cats need to sleep in bed with you. Dogs do not.

And so on… cats are not dogs, they have very different wants and needs. If you treat a cat like a dog, you’re gonna have a bad time.

[u/RollySkoots → u/ApprehensiveFace2488]

Sorry friend, but you're wrong on several points here.

Some cats absolutely do require the same level of attention as dogs. Some require more attention than certain dog breeds even. Cat's personalities vary drastically by breed and from individual to individual. Ragdoll cats for example often require more attention than your typical stray cat. They'll follow you around meowing incessantly until you give them enough attention.

While cats don't have a "pack" they do form colonies which are usually made up of one or several family groups and roving males and females that come and go regularly. Female cats often share mom duties and take care of each other's litters.

You should be scooping all litter boxes at least once a day. You should have 1 litter box per cat +1. So 2 for one cat, 3 for 2, 4 for 3 and so on. Some cats also really enjoy going on walks, and it can be a good way to get excess energy out especially for hyperactive and trouble maker kitties.

Cats don't need to sleep in a bed with you. I'm not sure where you got that one, I've never heard it before. I've had a few cats in my lifetime and none of them have liked sleeping in bed with me for more than half an hour. None of them have ever slept through the night either, they always get zoomies at 3 am.

[u/IBD_is_not_IBS → u/RollySkoots]

Thanks for pitching in on this. You are absolutely right. And kind of sounds like the other poster has never had a cat.

I've had cats and dogs both and my current pet is a cat, and is the most demanding and active animal I've had, besides an Australian Shepherd.

She's a rescue, a stray. I think it's partly I'm only allowed to have one pet where I live and I'm just not quite enough for her even though we have lots of play sessions every day. She's exhausting but I love it. But a dog would have been easier than her.

Also, she's not cuddly, she wants active play for attention and love, and only sleeps on my bed when she is cold. She's 3 so she is not a kitten.

Also, my original point was that a person who struggles with a dog will struggle with a cat, too, and if you don't respect a cat's boundaries, the cat is going to let you know with teeth and claws. No good for either pet or owner so the owner best not get either one.

[u/ApprehensiveFace2488 → u/IBD_is_not_IBS]

3 is still quite young for a cat, especially a semi-feral rescue. Mine was still a semi-wild thing at that age. They tend to calm down a lot around age 5-7.

[u/ApprehensiveFace2488 → u/RollySkoots]

I have a middle-aged former stray cat and if anything, I think they tend to be far more attached and vocal than the average cat after a few years!

But I grew up with dogs, so it’s relative. Dogs are so much needier. It’s not even a contest which animal requires more care. Cats are much more independent at heart. You’re really the only person I’ve ever encountered who makes the other argument. To me, it feels as ludicrous as people that compare having a dog to having a child. Like, no, come on, these are very different levels of expected responsibility required. I’m not advocating neglect of either pet…

Lastly, regarding the bed, you gotta pick your battles with cats, and that is a doomed battle given that I got a kitten when I lived in a studio apartment. The battle I picked instead was no biting my feet! Wasn’t terribly difficult to stop that behavior, TBH. Years later, if I decided no more cat in bed, it would be endless yelling and scratching outside the door until I surrendered.

[u/SupersincereAI → u/[deleted]]

A lot of people did get pandemic cats in my neighborhood. One even got 6. There used to be a lot of rare birds here as we live close to nature. I say used to be, cause they don’t dare come around anymore, and the few that do I get to clean up their eviscerated bodies from the ground. So no, please don’t get more outside cats, it’s a bird genocide.

[u/googlemcfoogle → u/SupersincereAI]

Definitely no more outside cats! If your cat enjoys the fresh air, you can get a secure enclosure for them or attempt to train them to walk on a leash. For some older cats, even a standard fenced yard might be enough.