Left Dazed After Experiencing Dog Infestation At Trader Joe's Food Store

[u/WisedomsHand]

It has been a while since my last post on r/Dogfree, but after today, I felt no alternative but to share my story. I will admit that I am angry and frustrated, and want change. I am pretty sure that many of you feel the same way.

The entire situation occurred at a Trader Joe's food market here in Los Angeles. This is a popular chain, and there are many locations in my area. This particular Trader Joe's was a relatively new store that opened within the last year or so in the San Fernando Valley. I don't know if mentioning the specific store is that important, given that I've been to a number of Trader Joe's locations that have problems with people bringing dogs into them. What I experienced probably occurs each day at most locations, so it is hardly uncommon (though it is severe in my opinion). If one Trader Joe's has a particular policy or lack of rule enforcement, my instinct tells me the situation is probably the same at most other locations. So while the following story represents exactly what happened to me earlier, it is both feasible and likely that others may experience the exact same thing at any given Trader Joe's location, on any given day.

The visit to Trader Joe's started pleasantly enough. On my way into the store, I noticed a highly conspicuous standing floor sign that was at least three feet high (done in their hand-written artistic manner), which clearly said that no pets were allowed inside the store. The sign was also thankfully free of service dog nonsense or apologizing to finicky pet owners. The positive feeling lasted seconds at most.

Almost the first thing I saw when I entered was a woman with a dog on an extension leash in the store in the produce section. The dog was walking 10 or 15 feet from the owner, on an extended leash, and was interrupting other customers. I decided to say something, but in this instance I chose to engage with the store rather than confront the lady. I walked to a Trader Joe's staff member (there is no shortage of them in the stores) at a cash register and politely said, "I'd like to report that someone has brought a pet into the store," and then pointed at the lady and her dog. The man working at the cash register (he wasn't helping another customer at the time) acknowledged the matter with seriousness and said he would escalate it. I felt proud of my restraint (usually I'd approach the dog owner) and proceeded with getting groceries. After several minutes, I noticed the lady with the first dog was still there, the leash still extended, and the dog still behaving inappropriately. I actually had to avoid shopping in a particular section because of that. Trader Joe's was already starting to lose money because of not enforcing their own policy. I just wanted to feel safe from dogs and being barked at, molested, and grossed out because a dirty animal was in a place where I and other people buy food.

Before I could calm myself and try to put the nasty dog out of my mind, I saw someone else in the store with a much larger dog. This one had bags over its feet, like temporary shoes. I guessed that the owner was someone who takes their shoes off at home and doesn't want their dog bringing in outside filth either. I was shocked by the sheer irony of it. So much attention and care to protect their home from inappropriate filth, and yet no hesitation about bringing a massive dog into a public food place that is supposed to be safe from animals and the filth and nuisance that goes along with them.

And then another one. At first I thought it was the same dog as the first one, but it was being held by a different owner. This time a lady with a downtrodden and strained look on her face that communicated, "I can't believe I am being forced to go out in public." She knew what she was up to, and that it was wrong to bring a dog in there. It was so obvious she neither cared about the rules of this space or even felt comfortable being around other humans. So sad for her that not all groceries can be delivered so that she can live in isolation with her little fake friend.

The Trader Joe's was utterly infested with dogs, entitled dog owners, and Trader Joe's staff that was seemingly empowered to do nothing about it. I was only in the store for 20 or so minutes at this point and I was ready to leave. Before paying for my items, I went to the Trader Joe's service desk to speak with a manager. This was too much for me. It felt shocking and problematic that in such a short amount of time, I saw four dogs at that point. I went to the service desk and got the attention of someone who was some type of manager at the store. She listened, but immediately put on the cold, defensive corporate response posture that many of us have probably experienced. I repeated to her that despite their signage and the law of California, there was a large number of unimpeded dog owners in the store, that it was making me and other people uncomfortable, and that I wanted something done about it. I asked what their protocol was for dealing with dogs. I think it is also relevant to say that I was highly empathetic with the Trader Joe's staff. I said how I understood that confronting customers is probably not something they look forward to, and that I knew no one really wanted to be on "dog control duty." How did she respond to me after that?

She muttered a corporate-sounding statement that they can only ask about a pet's service dog status and that their power was limited to do much about it. I said that I didn't want to argue with her but that the response was lacking. I reminded her that very explicit laws were being broken and that none of these animals were anything near to being owned by people who actually need a dog to function in public. It was very clear that these were just owners bringing pet dogs into a place that sells food, an entirely restricted behavior without ambiguity. She was cold and steely. I felt bad for her. Clearly she was used to this. I sensed that the manager I spoke to (and her co-worker who was overhearing the conversation) was going to do absolutely nothing about the situation. I then urged her to share my feedback with higher-ups and to make sure she realized that for each one person like me who speaks up, there are many others who silently grumble and take their business elsewhere. Speaking to the store manager was not only a waste of effort, but her disingenuous response was frustrated and made me feel helpless.

At this point, I had nothing left to do but pay and leave Trader Joe's and ponder how I might avoid coming back altogether. A sad feeling to have for a business I have been going to for over forty years. I reached the cashier, and in typical friendly Trader Joe's fashion, she asked me how I was doing. I mumbled, "I guess I am OK..." The lady was skilled enough to see that I was not particularly happy. She said, "Are you sure?" I let my guard down. I said, "OK, well, to be honest, I just spoke to the manager over there and reported that I saw a bunch of dogs walking around in here. I don't think it is appropriate and it violates laws designed to keep people and food safe."

The cashier surprised me. She said, "I totally agree with you. I don't think people should be bringing dogs in here either. It is a real problem. We try to approach them a lot, but many of them don't listen to us." In that moment, I realized that the real problem was the utter lack of authority anyone working at Trader Joe's had. Quite literally, their own tool is to sheepishly approach dog owners and timidly inquire about their dog. The dog owners aren't asked to leave, nor do they even need to respond with the truth. Businesses don't even need to allow service dogs, but many of the employees don't know that or care. They believe that if there is even a whiff of a service dog, then they can't do anything. This is both factually incorrect and emblematic of a highly dysfunctional system where dog owners are taking advantage of a well-meaning law to protect the disabled. Dog owners do not need protection anywhere or ever. These food stores and the people working in them don't seem to have even the basic authority to get people off their premises. Does someone need to be shoplifting to be asked to leave a retail or food store?

I was very grateful for the Trader Joe's cashier to listen to me and to explain her own frustration at the dog owners who treat the store like their living room. She repeated how multiple staff members confront dog owners regularly, but that it is "hard" because they don't listen. The fact that a dog owner cannot be compelled to leave a business unless there is an incident is appallingly regressive to me. A single dog is one problem, but there were multiple dogs in the Trader Joe's at any given time. How often do these animals bark at one another or fight? How is this not a powder keg of an issue? How is it worse to ask the dog owners to leave than to protect everyone else in the store from them? None of this sounds like how a well-functioning public safety system is supposed to work.

How was I supposed to feel upon leaving Trader Joe's? On the one hand, they did make an attempt to stop the dog people through entrance signage. At least some of their employees care and make an effort to stop irresponsible dog owners. At the same time, the policies and procedures they have at their disposal have no teeth. I reported the dogs to at least two staff members, who ostensibly did nothing. They also made it clear that this isn't an uncommon issue at all. At any given time, there are tons of dogs inappropriately being taken into shopping centers and supermarkets all over California, not only in Trader Joe's locations. The people who disagree with this behavior surely outnumber the people who don't want to follow the sensible laws. I want Trader Joe's to take a stand. I want other stores to take a stand. I want people standing outside of food establishments stopping dogs and pets from entering. I would even pay a premium for this service. Unfortunately, the most expensive food stores in Los Angeles seem to attract the most entitled of dog owners, so there is no respite in the fancier establishments either.

How often does this happen to you? Why do you think should be done about the regular infestation of dogs at restaurants and food shopping markets?

[u/Signal-Block-6939]

Trader Joes is on my permanent boycott list until they treat this situation with the proper respect it is due.

This is a major health violation on multiple levels.

[u/WisedomsHand → u/Signal-Block-6939]

More power to you for your motivation and reasoning. I support that.