[topknot]

I have only taken my pups in twice to Pet Stores - Pet Smart and only because I had them with me and had to stop on the way back home and I didn't plan to go before we left. But I had her wrapped up in a baby blanket, so no contact to the cart and never put her down at all. Actually I pretty much held her like a baby the whole time. It is not Pet Smart - it is any place where other dogs have been - that is risky. I do not want to take the chance. Even when we go to the vet for check ups - I bring my own blanket or carpet square and place that on the table first before my dog - so there is no contact to the table. I use to be a vet tech, so I know they clean them, but it is only as clean as the one that cleans it - in other words - did they do the best job they could cleaning it. Once I went to the vet and they put me in a room and they didn't know the table had not been clean. I knew it was dirty, since white dog hair (the short hairs) were all over the table and even a sopt of blood. I was not going to quit going tomy vet, since he does not clean the tables. They had just forgot about it and were very busy. They are human too. But as a resposible pet owner and I knew better - I waited till they cleaned the table and then again put that blanket down before I placed my baby on it. Then when I get home - that blanket goes right in the washer.

BAck in the 1980's I brought Parvo home from where I worked - vets. I made the mistake and did not take off my shoes and clothing before coming in to my home and I had a litter of pups. This was a time when Parvo was new and no vaccine yet. We had a lot of cases coming in to my work every day. Well, I had to nurse (tube feed) those pups round the clock - had 5 puppies. They made it and were the friendly pups I have ever had, but it did teach me a lesson. From that day on - I would strip in my garage and place my clothes right in the washer and changed shoes. I also wiped my work shoes down with bleach (soles). I did this every day, because I worked in a place where I was in contact with sick pups all the time. I also do this when I come back from a show too. Same treatment when I get home. Just because people show does not mean all of them treat their dogs the way you do. So please - just be careful. You never know what you might bring home.