4 ms·

When I'm Dining Out, Should I Have to Deal with Your Dogs?

11 points by lxm 2y ago

ggm 2y ago
https://archive.md/qVPAa https://archive.md/qVPAa
aeternum 2y ago
Why not talk to the person rather than write an article about it? You generally are expected to deal with slight unpleasantries when in public. For example you are not guaranteed to be seated at a table without kids around, without dogs around, without wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers nearby. The table next to you might be talking loudly or celebrating a birthday. If those things bother you, eat at home.
- AStonesThrow 2y ago
  Generally, animal-free restaurants have been explicitly guaranteed by health and safety codes. Service animals are the exception, and I'd certainly never begrudge anyone the companionship of a seeing-eye dog. Unfortunately, though, it feels like this exception has been abused as more people take on pets for nebulous "comfort" roles, but service animals are strictly defined; many establishments may not wish to risk offense by questioning that in the moment.
  - voxic11 2y ago
    It's not all that general. While federal guidelines advise against allowing pet dogs in restaurants, 23 states have laws or regulations specifically allowing them. Edit: apparently the FDA has updated their guidelines to allow pets as of last year.
    - AStonesThrow 2y ago
      We used to play cards in a coffeehouse downtown, and someone brought a pet snake and laid it across the table. Are the exceptions dog-specific, or is any legal pet fair game? Can my friends in California dine with their pet ferrets? There was a meal-prep service nearby with a storefront open to the public. I visited a few times, and the owner had a pair of dogs who were free to roam the floor. Their names were "Cash" and "Charge". That was one of the factors that helped me decide I should not continue to patronize them.
- euroderf 2y ago
  If an adjacent table gets rowdy, you're within your rights to say something to the wait staff. Then you've said your peace and it has become a matter of house policy. I'd venture that badly-behaved dogs can be filed under "rowdy".
  - hnthr_w_y 2y ago
    There's a big difference between 'rowdy' and 'causing trouble'. A birthday grouping will get loud, with no bad intentions.
- pxtail 2y ago
  > Why not talk to the person rather than write an article about it? For plenty of people a dog has become a substitute for a child to some extent and those people often refuse to acknowledge that it's still a dog, an animal. Conversation can get heated and emotional very quickly in such case.

11 points by lxm 2y ago

ggm 2y ago

https://archive.md/qVPAa https://archive.md/qVPAa

Why not talk to the person rather than write an article about it? You generally are expected to deal with slight unpleasantries when in public. For example you are not guaranteed to be seated at a table without kids around, without dogs around, without wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers nearby. The table next to you might be talking loudly or celebrating a birthday. If those things bother you, eat at home.

AStonesThrow 2y ago
Generally, animal-free restaurants have been explicitly guaranteed by health and safety codes. Service animals are the exception, and I'd certainly never begrudge anyone the companionship of a seeing-eye dog. Unfortunately, though, it feels like this exception has been abused as more people take on pets for nebulous "comfort" roles, but service animals are strictly defined; many establishments may not wish to risk offense by questioning that in the moment.
- voxic11 2y ago
  It's not all that general. While federal guidelines advise against allowing pet dogs in restaurants, 23 states have laws or regulations specifically allowing them. Edit: apparently the FDA has updated their guidelines to allow pets as of last year.
  - AStonesThrow 2y ago
    We used to play cards in a coffeehouse downtown, and someone brought a pet snake and laid it across the table. Are the exceptions dog-specific, or is any legal pet fair game? Can my friends in California dine with their pet ferrets? There was a meal-prep service nearby with a storefront open to the public. I visited a few times, and the owner had a pair of dogs who were free to roam the floor. Their names were "Cash" and "Charge". That was one of the factors that helped me decide I should not continue to patronize them.
euroderf 2y ago
If an adjacent table gets rowdy, you're within your rights to say something to the wait staff. Then you've said your peace and it has become a matter of house policy. I'd venture that badly-behaved dogs can be filed under "rowdy".
- hnthr_w_y 2y ago
  There's a big difference between 'rowdy' and 'causing trouble'. A birthday grouping will get loud, with no bad intentions.
pxtail 2y ago
> Why not talk to the person rather than write an article about it? For plenty of people a dog has become a substitute for a child to some extent and those people often refuse to acknowledge that it's still a dog, an animal. Conversation can get heated and emotional very quickly in such case.