RANT! People have some nerve!
 

I was in petsmart yesterday and had Chloe with me, I was carrying her in my arms- I was looking at something with one hand and therefore carrying her with only one arm. I was paying attention to what I was looking at and all of sudden this lady had swooped in and taken Chloe out of my hand! :eek: I was raised that you don't even PET an animal without asking first, I couldn't imagine just taking someones dog from their hands with asking.

The first thing that bothers me is this- Chloe is an absolute sweetheart- BUT if this lady had approached and I had Armani instead the result would have been different. He is possessive towards me and if I am holding him and someone touches him or me he will snap. We are working on this A LOT. We are doing really good. He hasn't snapped at anyone in over a year, however, I can't guarantee that result if I have no time to give him direction and someone just grabs him. If I had him and he bit- she would be all over wanting to sue be, right?! Plus- if he did snap, that dumb lady would have set all my work back.

Second- I am not one of these people that doesn't let people touch my dogs ever- but I think it is common courtesy to at least ask first. I was in a bad mood at that particular point and in a rush. I really just wanted to get done what I had to and move on to the next errand. And for those who are going to ask why I dragged my dog along if I was in a rush- one of the things I needed to get done was having Chloe's nails trimmed before we leave tomorrow.

Anyway- I was in such shock that I really didn't say anything- I just kind of took Chloe back and walked off- NOW I wish I had said something to dumb lady BUT since I was already in a bad mood it wouldn't have been nice at all. So instead you all get to hear my rant.

Now has anything similar happened to anyone- and what did you say/do? I will feel better if some of you let people have it :D

What is that saying? Oh, yes! It takes all kinds!

I cannot believe that someone would just grab her from your arms! :eek: I'm the very least she invaded your personal space be getting that close to you. Then she actually removed Chloe from your arms. I have never had anyone do something like that to me before and don't know what I would have said or done~possibly snapped at her myself.

I heard of a rescue (not YHR) that had a pup stolen this way at a Petco. Two guys just walked up and grabbed the baby and ran. I just cannot imagine something like that happening. You didn't know this woman's intentions. WOW!!!!

WOW if that had happened to me. That lady wouldn't have any hands left to grab anything, and she would probably have been deaf by the time I had finished saying what I would have to say.

There is just excuse in anyone doing something like that. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Here's what I have happen (more times than not) - Someone with those front back baby carriers will lean over my dog and starting talking to her with their baby's face within an inch of the dog's mouth. I freeze as a sudden move on my part just might "alert" my dog there's something to be concerned about and...being a dog...might react in kind. I don't get people. I don't get people, never have, never will.
I've yet to figure out how to rephrase, "Were you born stupid or was there a brain injury that happened at some point in your life?". So I just work my away as quietly as possible. And yes, they would have the nerve to sue.

WOW! That is nuts. Considering the way people steal purses and cameras and even kids, my first thought would have been that someone was trying to steal my dog...and my reflexes probably would have gotten me in trouble.

My boys are like your kids: Max wouldn't do anything, but Teddy would snap at a stranger for sure. Poor Teddy, people charge at him and act like they are going to scoop him up, which probably is their intention until they see teeth. I'm convinced he is afraid of being taken away from his family, so he has become antisocial. Can't blame him because people behave so badly around him.

Wow!! Stupid or rude, I don't know which one. If I had Sammy in a store (or anywhere) and someone did that he would most likely snap at them. He is very protective of me. I was in the waiting room at the vets and a woman started to go to pet him and I told her to please stop because he might bite her. All he did was growl at her but people should ask first!!!!!

Would you grab someone's skin baby out of their arms? I don't think so. I'm like you, Elissa. I always stand back and ask first before even petting someone's dog. The last thing I want to do is get bit. And I'm not about to stick my face near a strange dog either. People deserve to get bit, IMO, if they do this.

You did good holding your tongue. I wouldn't have (I know, whoda thunk? LOL)

I'll always ask if I can pet a dog or ask does he/she bite? I would never approach a dog without asking first. People have approached me when I had my little ones but most of the time they ask first. I know one thing though. When I have my two Bassets with me nobody approaches them without asking and to be quite honest they have a better chance of being bitten by the little ones. My bassets are mushes and wouldn't hurt a fly.

I can't believe someone would just grab your dog right out of your hands. :eek: That is beyond rude. :mad: I don't know what I would have said. I probably would have been too shocked to say anything.

Next time she does that she may be sitting in the ER with Martha Stewart. Its hard to believe people can be that dumb. I think my first thought would be she was trying to steel my baby. What would happen if she took someone dog and they bit her and she dropped it? Wonder who she would blame. ??????

Oh my word!! You handled it much better than I would have. I would have probably screamed thinking my baby was being stolen. The one and only time Remy has been to Petsmart I had people all over him trying to pet him without asking! UGH.. sure I dont mind if someone pets him but please ask first. I also had someone ask me if he was purebred because he was so much calmer than there Morkie. Seriously, since when is temperant related to being a purebred or not? Not all yorkie's are hyper is what I told her! People these days are rude and crazy!

Luckily, usu I have dh with me who is carries the babies. No one would think of trying to take one from the big guy. They have reached out to pet one at times, and dh usu lets them. I would have screamed bloody murder if someone did that. And hoped they got bit though that might make them drop him or her. I hate confrontations, but none takes my babies without permission.

What...the...
 

I can't believe someone would do something like that...You would think it's common sense and courtesy to ask before you even pet someone else's dog. If this had happened to me...I would have been angry too! I don't know what I would say...I hope she gets bit next time so she learns! It wouldn't be the dog's fault, she can only blame her stupidity.

Wow, that's really unbelievable!

I would never, ever, ever touch a strange dog without asking! Not only out of courtesy, but I don't want to get bitten!!!!

It's really too bad that didn't become an educational experience for the woman. She needs to learn that is a BIG, BIG, no-no. Although, like you, I probably would have been too shocked to say anything. Who does that kind of thing?

I shudder to think what Liz would have done. She does NOT like strangers and has bitten someone before, although it was at home. She has also snapped at people who have approached her when we are out. I try to be very careful with her and she just loves going places with me.

Ugh! Huge pet peeve of mine too (no pun intended). I will often carry Vinnie in my arms and he is one aggressive little guy. If he's in my arms and someone tries to pet him, he lunges with all his might. But this has also led to some really funny experiences....

We were down at Eastern Market (in DC) doing some shopping. I was holding Vinnie in my arms because it was crowded and generally trying to be concious of who was around me (so that I could give the "No, don't pet him. He bites!" speech before someone attempted to reach out to him). Anyway, a boy (about 9 or 10 years old) comes up from behind and, before I could even see him, reaches out to pet Vinnie. Vinnie responded in the only way he knew how - he bit the kid! Now, the kid's mother was about 10 feet ahead. The kid started to run up to his mom, and he looked like he was going to break out in tears, but you could tell he was thinking that he was really too old to cry. It was hilarious. His lip was trembling and he was holding his finger looking back at me and Vinnie, but he didn't want to tell his mom what he just did. I heard his mom ask what was wrong and he said, "Nothing." It was hilarious. I will never forget the look on that kid's face and I am sure he will never do that again!

I can't believe she did that!! What was her reasoning? What a crazy lady!

I would think she was trying to steal my dog.
I do have people ask to hold Dink all the time, and I say no.

Wow. I never even let a stranger hold my dog. Levi loves everyone, but he doesn't like to be held by strangers. He squirms a lot, so I just don't allow it. It's common courtesy to ask before you pet someone's dog. I can't believe a grown woman grabbed Chloe! I could maybe see a kid trying it, but an adult?? That is ridiculous.

Like some of the other posters, I would have thought she was trying to steal my dog and in tightening my hold, I'm afraid my dog might have gotten hurt, then she would really have me to deal with. By the time I finished, I doubt she would ever try it again. :eek:

i would have flipped a lid on her! i don't even allow my nieces and nephews to pick up my dogs since they are small and can be dropped and badly hurt by people. they do wriggle out of my arms so i can only imagine someone else holding them.

HOW DARE that woman do that to you and the poor dog? is she nutts? i would have screamed at her like she was intending to steal them for sure.

Wow! I can't believe that! I would have reacted probably in a not so polite way.

I'd probably say no, even if they did ask to hold mine (a stranger in public). They are so fragile after all.

Vinnie responded in the only way he knew how - he bit the kid! Now, the kid's mother was about 10 feet ahead. The kid started to run up to his mom, and he looked like he was going to break out in tears, but you could tell he was thinking that he was really too old to cry. It was hilarious. His lip was trembling and he was holding his finger looking back at me and Vinnie, but he didn't want to tell his mom what he just did. I heard his mom ask what was wrong and he said, "Nothing." It was hilarious. I will never forget the look on that kid's face and I am sure he will never do that again!
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Andrea,

I can't believe you think that was funny!

That is why I stopped taking mine to the pet stores. Not only did Barney contract kennel cough once while shopping in petco, but I dont like people touching my dogs when they have their own dogs in tow.

That's TERRIBLE! I, like you, am not the type that doesn't allow anyone to pet or touch Jackson, etc. But I really appreciate when people ASK and surprisingly, most do. So I haven't had too many issues with this. Jackson is very shy with strangers and it will definitely set him back if someone just ran up and picked him up (luckily, he's a bit bigger, so I guess he doesn't look as 'inviting' to pick up, LOL). Wow, just wow. I would have flipped out.

I was so appreciative yesterday when I was in the pet store (our local one) and a little girl, about 3yrs old, said "ohh doggy!!" to her mommy, and the mom politely asked me if she could pet him. I said 'Sure!' and told Jackson to go say hi... which he did and started wagging his tail, and the mother was so thankful and told me 'Thanks SO much for allowing her to pet him - she loves dogs!' I love when people are like that. Because it's great socialization for Jackson and ALSO for the child to learn how to behave around a dog.

OH MY! I know EXACTLY how you feel! I had an old lady (pushing a walker!) just grab Teddy out of my arms the other day! Teddy squirms when I carry him sometimes and when she did it I was afraid that she would drop him! Or even snap at her, which he does to me sometimes as well!

I vote for Stupid! I can't believe that someone would grab a dog. I usually keep my fingers through Deuce's harness to stop him from squirming out and keep grabbers at bay. I am also a great screamer and good kicker. But certainly a lady;)

Someone takes MY Chloe like that, after she snaps at them, i will cut their hands off!!! and giving a BIG piece of my mind!! people dont understand, our furbabies are just as children to us.... how would they feel if a total stranger take their babies like that???!!

Some people just have the nerve! I can't believe someone would just take your baby right out of your arms. Sakura loves going to Petsmart because she loves attention. But all the people ask me before they pet her. I even had to younger teens ask to pet her and if she was mean to kids because that's what they had heard about yorkies. I'm an extremely shy person but if someone decided to take my girl out of my hands their face would meet my shoe.