[Lopsi]

I do love to take my babies places - most notably pet stores and to play at parks. I do tend to be against taking any animals into places with food - I understand the laws, and I totally agree. I don't want dogs peeing on stuff, chewing on stuff, or even worse, people taking in puppies and spreading diseases and such in a place that's not like the petstore who knows dogs come in and clean regularly *for that type thing*.

I will however say this: I have recently taken Pixie in MANY more places that I would have ever dreamed, and I was astonished some of the places that allowed it. I never hid her in a carrier or anything - but after our house burned, we didn't have a choice but to take her WITH us - we no longer had a home to leave her in.

She went to the dollar store (we knew better than to try wal-mart), and really, I'm against that, but we didn't have a choice. They do sell food (we were there to buy food - couldn't go to walmart!), and I don't really like that we had to do that, but they were OK with it, they talked to her, pet her, and were really supportive of us. But then again, look at our situation: sometimes maybe it should be ok on a case by case basis.

We also took her to Target - another place that I am *very* against a dog going. But we didn't have a choice. She rode in the buggy, she sat quietly, and lots of workers pet her and talked to her. Honestly, I don't know what else we'd have done if some people hadn't let us taken her - we wouldn't have been able to buy food anywhere. We have flipped schedules, so it's not like one of us could stand outside with her all the time or something, either.

She went other places too - Lowe's, etc. When we went to eat, we ate lots of Sonic because we could eat outside and get her chicken. She was happy sitting beside us eating chicken. She also went into my daughter's school - without a leash and collar - while the house was still burning. They initially threw a fit that no dogs allowed without leashes, etc... when I explained look, my house is on fire, I can't leave her, I can't get her leash, I need to talk to my daughter NOW... they were very, very understanding.

I'm not making this to really stand up for either side - I do understand the rules and the reasons behind them. I respect the rules and think they are great the way they are... I do however think there are certain times that rules should be bent. What if I'd had a lab instead? I don't know. I really don't. It probably wouldn't have been as welcome, but we now regularly use the places who welcomed us in our time of need.

And as a further note - now that we DO have a home again, our dogs are once again limited to only going to the pet stores, parks, and other places that dogs are welcome.

Just some thoughts.