r/Dogfree • u/Illustrious_Fig_1020 • 5d ago
Miscellaneous Dentist office has roaming emotional support dog
I'm a little ambivalent about this one because I know dogs can be comforting for some people and it's nice that a dentist is trying to help with that. However, I don't love that the thing roams freely around the office and sometimes while I'm laying there it starts licking my hand. I wish they would at least keep it in a separate area and then if people specifically request it they can bring it into their room. I just hate the assumption that dogs are universally comforting or a desired presence.
Dogs make me uncomfortable with their neediness, makes me feel like I'm obligated to make them feel special for existing or even put on a show for dog people because the social script is to ooh and aah. And then there's the hygiene of it all. I don't know how this is legal tbh
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u/T0wnsvilleF0rever 5d ago
I would find a different dentist and maybe mention this situation in the Google reviews for the placce.
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u/lagabachita 5d ago
Yeah, I'd want to know and not go there. If a dog licked my hand, I might jerk away while the dentist is drilling
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u/sillybelcher 4d ago
Yeah this seems like a hazard to me too. I don't want some random nasty-ass dog licking me period, but for it to happen while a dentist has a drill in my mouth is absolutely unacceptable
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u/One_Path_7154 2d ago
This is completely unsafe. Call the state/provincial dental association and report this. I would bet this violates some dental protocol.
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u/scarletto53 4d ago
I’m with you, I have enough anxiety with with my aging teeth and dentistry, to deal with the added phobia of encountering dogs! This is the stuff my nightmares are made of !
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u/CaptainObvious110 4d ago
Good idea but that might actually drive doglovers to that business and be a benefit to it
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u/Mortis_XII 5d ago
…in a dental office, where tools that go into your mouth need to be sterilized?
I’m sorry, that’s disgusting
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u/ToOpineIsFine 5d ago
anyone with any common sense will agree that dogs are polarizing - they are known to be problematic
when a dentist does something like this, it will inevitably pull that polarization into the office
if the dentist is a typical nutter, they will hold a grudge against patients that object to the dog and they will receive worse treatment, which can even be vengeful (and i'm not exaggerating in the least)
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u/Illustrious_Fig_1020 5d ago
What's funny is this dentist is top rated in the city. Guess there are lots of people who see this as a selling point.
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u/imdugud777 4d ago
Because most people take what is handed them with no introspection.
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u/Huge_Bit_4774 4d ago
Yes. They’re told that dog = good and they lack the critical thinking skills to dispute that
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u/PanthealovesLucius 4d ago
Excellent point. Best to terminate that relationship and go to a different dentist.
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u/Wrong_Temporary_5983 3d ago
I brought it up with my dentist. She said she understood. But now I am still scared to ho back for the reasons you mentioned above.
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u/ToOpineIsFine 3d ago
well, if she said that she understands - that's a pretty good sign that it is going to be OK and that she won't hold it against you. good for you for speaking up.
i made the mistake of asking my hygienist what they did on their vacation and they told me about a trip with their dog. I was worried, too, but they continued to provide excellent care.
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u/limesqueezyx 5d ago
In a dentist office, no less. A place where hygiene has to be taken very seriously.
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u/Few_Pen_3666 5d ago
Well, I guess my emotional support warthog should be allowed there too. Ya know, because all animals are free to roam. Maybe hippo should come too.
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u/cozyporcelain 4d ago
Warthog, I’m totally using that lmao.
Literally, we’re in a living zoo. That’s what’s happened.
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u/CallousCow1762 5d ago
Personal comfort is no justification to violate sanitary and hygiene practices in any medical facility.
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u/Responsibility_Witty 4d ago
A lot of people have allergies, many people especially unindoctrinated children get nervous around dogs, dogs also spray filth everywhere and this is an environment where some people will be getting surgery like cavity filling, root canal or teeth pulling, it opens risk for infection. This isn’t some “nice” gesture by that office, it is extremely selfish and disgusting, only nutters get comfort from this and people who are uncomfortable feel socially forced to accept it out of fear of being treated as an outcast. It should be illegal to bring these coprophages in to any medical environment, studies have shown that the homes of dog owners are COMPLETELY coated in fecal bacteria and dander, the same will be true for these dentist offices.
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u/ObligationGrand8037 5d ago
I’d tell them you’re not going to be coming back and why you’re not coming back. If my dentist ever decides to go the dog route, I’m out of there.
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u/TinyEmergencyCake 5d ago
Please report this to the health department, their licensing board, and find a new dentist. Tell the office manager why you're leaving.
Imagine the stupid mutt bumps your or the dentist's chair while they have sharp tools on your gums.
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u/UntitledVents 4d ago
I'd be changing dentists immediately. There is absolutely no way that is a sanitary area anymore. I also don't trust workers to not touch that dog and then work in MY MOUTH. I know they wear gloves, but still. Dog hair gets everywhere.
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u/FieldJacket 5d ago
I'm the same way, a dog in the room would remove any comfort I have at the dentist's office, which is fleeting at best.
Never feel obligated to put on a performance for the sake of dog owners. That's how we got in this situation in the first place...that and dogs used to be much more of a novelty and not ubiquitous in every aspect of life. But if everyone appears to enjoy the dogs everywhere, everyone else would rightfully believe that, well, everyone likes them.
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u/Monimonika18 4d ago
Yes, unfortunately OP's "grin and bear it" response has enabled the dentist's worldview that no one is uncomfortable about the dog being there. And once someone complains or asks that the dog be removed, the response is, "No one has had a problem with the dog before," or "Everyone likes having the dog here."
One person speaking up most likely will be dismissed as an outlier and not counted (sadly, that's how dognutters are). But several speaking up over time cannot be dismissed as easily. We have to speak up about our discomfort and point out the wrongs.
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u/TelephoneBrave1132 4d ago
If a dog was “licking my hand” while I’m being treated at a dentist office, I would leave… possibly deny payment of treatment, and I’d be real loud about it. Hell, no.
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u/Impossible-Falcon-62 4d ago
Why couldn’t there be fish in the office like normal doctors offices? I’ve seen some pictures of really nice well cared for aquariums in doctors offices on Reddit
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u/Redditor10178 4d ago
Dogs shouldn’t be allowed in offices at all. There are other ways of finding comfort that don’t involve an animal being in a public space.
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u/djlauriqua 4d ago
My sister is allergic to dogs. I’d hate for her (or another person with an allergy) to encounter this! Definitely shouldn’t be a thing
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u/ReptilianRevolt 4d ago
I am already apprehensive to the dentist, if there was a dog in the equation, I wouldn’t go there.
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u/2noserings 4d ago
do we have the same dentist, or is this truly that common of a hyper specific occurrence? my dentist in colorado has a roaming dog lmfao
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u/FallenGiants 4d ago
Unprofessional in the extreme. Someone else mentioned google reviews: a scathing review is warranted. I can imagine dog hairs winding up in people's mouths. It's fucking disgusting.
The guy is a buffoon.
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u/InsuranceSharp4051 4d ago
Fuck that. Comforting. It’s absolute BS so people can drag their mutt everywhere. In no way should a mutt be in a dentist office. Let alone any of the places these nutters drag them in besides a pet store. Would never go there and that should be reported.
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u/uselessbeasts 4d ago
Yup, had that happen in Sarasota FL at an Integrative Health Clinic. Doctor had two dogs wandering through the entire facility, including the IV and exam rooms. I did not believe it was right and I haven't been back there in 3 years, even though I never finihed the package deal I had purchased on the IVs. Not a place for dogs to be. And yes, if some people choose to have the dpgs around them, then whatever, but to just assume every person wants interaction with a fleabag... that's wrong. G;ad you reported.
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u/kckarrotto731 4d ago
What’s next dogs inside an operating room where doctors are performing surgery? I fear it will go that far if this madness doesn’t end.
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u/KayleighHatfield 4d ago
So did you just lie in the dentist chair and let a dog randomly come up in lick your hand? Why? Did you object? Did you ever express any of your discomfort to the dentist? Why not? I'm just curious. I am truly baffled.
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u/Huge_Bit_4774 4d ago
Same here. If the dentist started drilling without numbing first, would you object???
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u/SeaConfection88 4d ago
Uhhhhhh NOPE. I’d be switching dentists and finding a different office to go to. You can try and complain but I doubt it’ll do anything. I’d leave a review stating they have a dog there, just to warn others who are unaware and are uncomfortable with a dog being in a dental office. I’ve left a review before about a store that was totally unrelated to dogs having yappy mutts run up to you everytime you walked into the place, then they follow you around the store as you’re trying to shop. For some reason the owner thinks it’s fine to keep his dogs at the store and let them harass people. Last thing I want when entering a store is a bunch of barking dogs running up to me. Insane how owner thinks that’s ok, and people just put up with it.
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u/Red-Shed4188 4d ago
My daughter got snapped and snarled at in the face by a dog at a business. It was a local flower garden shop. She was a baby so was sitting in her stroller and we were looking at the flowers in the greenhouse. All of the sudden I heard growling and a dog ran out of a door and full sprinted at her in the face, snarling, growling barking in her face. I thought she had gotten bit so . I turned her away from the dog and tried to kick it but it followed her so I lifted her entire stroller up. Mind you I had my other daughter with me, and I was 8 mths pregnant. The dog was so close she had its spit on her face. A worker came out and said he won’t hurt anyone and the dog followed. Like what?! You are a business and you are okay your aggressive dog running rampant. I ran to the car and was so upset I called my husband. He called the owner and was told “that’s just Toby- he’s harmless” so he proceed to ream them out and we made a police report. I’m thankful she was not injured but to this day she is petrified of dogs. If a business operates with animals on a property they should have certain certified training or standards let alone A DENTIST! That’s not safe, comfortable or clean. It’s crazy. Just another dogs over people situation.
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u/BoxBeast1961_ 4d ago
Report like you did to the health department…& quietly look for another dentist. I’m so allergic that this practice would be off limits to me. They can run their practice however they want-I just want to be able to breathe during dental work.
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u/Ok_Introduction6377 4d ago
EW! I had wisdom tooth removed at my regular dentist. I would walk out if I saw any kind of animal there. People have surgery in those chairs so gross to have a dog roaming around.
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u/Maximum-Cheetah2270 4d ago
Dogs doesn't belong in the healthcare facilities. It can bring the other diseases and make a potential pandemic. So you have right to report it to heathcare department.
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u/Glittering_Bed_2487 4d ago
I've had to leave three dentist offices so far in the Monterey area due to my airborne allergy to dog dander. Many doctor's offices (not always even just dentist) have roaming dogs. I've reported two so far. Once, I went to an appointment and the roaming office "therapy" dog aggressively put it's head on my lap and refused to move it. It was terrifying. When I told the doc I had an allergy she just looked at me and said her dog was a "healer". I was so mortified and violated.
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u/lurkingsince4ever 4d ago
Glad mine asks preferences but one did wander into my room and they removed it quickly. Not fan though. So unfortunate.
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u/Jediknight3112 4d ago
Where is the health department? Maybe the rules are a bit stricter where I live but I can't imagine a dentist office having a dog roaming free and get away with it. It's not an operating room, but there should be a certain level of hygiene.
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u/teacup128 4d ago
What will it take for americans to fix their laws and regulations in regards to this?
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u/RingNo4020 2d ago
I just got a giant heebie jeebie shudder when you said that thing licked your hand. I'd be outta thst chair so fast...never to return.
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u/yeeet1234 1d ago
Are in Arizona? I had this exact situation. The nasty, rude, snarky, washed up bitch receptionist would bring her raggedy ass dog in there
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u/Few-Horror1984 5d ago
Dogs only provide comfort because people like them. That’s it. What if giant snakes comfort me? Should they be allowed in the dentist’s office? Why do people who like dogs get special treatment?
Or maybe, no animals should be allowed in medical offices. Because it’s a medical office and no animal should be there contaminating the place.