I know exactly how you feel. I tried walking to my mailbox the other day (I live in an apt so it is down the street a little), and I got stopped by 6 people with their dogs wanting to hold and pet my 2! Now first of all, I don't know WHAT kind of diseases or whatnot their dogs have, and I don't want my 2 little ones anywhere NEAR their dogs! But how am I supposed to be nice about it? By the way, I didn't ever make it to the mailbox! It was dark by the time everyone stopped me and my dogs were TIRED OUT from all the visiting, so I just had to turn around and go home.
That's the last time I'll ever try to take them with me to the mailbox!