I know we went off topic mentioning these things, but we did get into love of animals vs humans and stuff, so there is a relevance to it all.

While we all have no problem heaping love on our babies (fur and skin), we are abusing the Mother Ship in unimaginable ways. We often don't realize this but, as consumers our needs, wants, whatever are provided by companies that have no problem with exploitation in the name of profit.

This has never been a good way to do things and now these chickens are coming home to roost in a big way. You're right, Gail....our future is not assured but our destruction is if we keep on this path.

We now have nearly 7 billion humans on Earth and it's projected to be 9 billion by 2050, and everybody wants a car and other modern conveniences. A major shift in thinking is needed. It's no longer just an extremist way of thinking....it's a necessity for our survival.

As a small example, cutting the rain forests of Indonesia, and the burning that follows, is responsible for an estimated 1/3 of the carbon released into the air yearly. Not to mention the death of entire species. This is being done to clear land for palm oil plantations. So, the innocent act of not being careful which toothpaste or cracker you buy collectively results in this massive destruction. That's the result of small choices made by 7 billion.

This should really be a discussion on its on. Like you said, much too big a subject for an aside in a thread. I wish people would get as worked up about this as some of the other topics here. It's a discussion the whole world should be having. Everything reaches a tipping point somewhere and we're fast approaching the big one. Growth for growth's sake and a culture or more, more, more will be our undoing.

Sorry, everyone, for the tangent. I don't know what she meant by redhead, either.

LOL, meow! You never really know about the people standing beside you. My brother routinely had a snake hidden in his jacket, and had been led out of a few stores because it showed itself to the cashier. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Since the OP seems not to be coming back, I think I am the only one who got the joke. You call someone really ugly a dog. She said no it's a redhead, like an ugly red headed stepchild. That is a saying right? "ugly red headed stepchild"?

My initial post in this thread as "Ha!" wasn't actually laughing at her joke, bc it was a pretty bad one, but at the situation. Between OP and MS VIP they were both rude all around.

Yes that is a saying I have heard all my life, I thought they were both rude also.

thank you! at least someone was able to explain it. how did you get so stinkin smart girlie? :p

Wouldn't that be like calling your own dog ugly? I think the OP was just saying something off the wall. I took it like a Marxism...as in Groucho Marx...I dunno...pretty lame, in any case.

I agree. My son is terribly allergic to cats and I certainly wouldn't appreciate anyone bringing one to a place where he may be exposed. We have to be considerate of others.

WOW! That's amazing. I love it.:)

I view this whole thing through my own experiences...

I suffered through infertility for almost 10 years. If it weren't for our Border Collie, Willie, I think I would have been in the nuthouse. He was my strength, my companion, my comfort. He was my first 'baby'.

I've also raised service dogs and encountered prejudice when I had to take them into public places, even when they were wearing their vests and i.d. tags. I've seen first-hand the benefit these dogs give to the disabled and I was glad we could help in some small way.

The last service dog we had it was very hard to say good-bye to him. We became very attached to him and decided it was time to get a dog of our own. So now, along with my twin boys, we have Teddy, our little yorkie, and we love him so very much. He is our 4-legged baby. Though he could never take the place of my two-legged ones children, he takes up a huge space in my heart.

I don't take Teddy anywhere I'm not sure he's welcome. I don't want to take the chance of someone asking me to leave, or putting someone in an awkward spot. Sometimes I will ask at a store what their pet policy is so I know in the future. :)

Don't get the "red-head" comment, but I am for one glad that pets are not allowed everywhere. I keep seeing people I have witnessed first hand who "think" they have well behaved dogs allowing them to be out of control.
Allowing dogs would mean allowing ALL dogs. Not a risk I am willing to allow myself or my family (furry or not) to take. It is bad enough seeing people allow children to misbehave in a store, but buying urine soaked, flea ridden, or half eaten items, while possibly putting my life at stake while trying to purchase groceries is what I see happening at my local WallyWorld if dogs were allowed.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

In addition to the above, not all dogs are properly vetted. Most are not. They carry diseases and more specifically parasites that can be transferred to humans. That is the major reason they aren't allowed on most beaches in eastern Michigan. They aren't properly screened for worms, people step on stool, and hooks migrate through the skin.

I see tons of animals with their owners and the owners don't see anything wrong with their hygiene, the minimal vet care given, etc. I for one do not want gross smelling dogs near food even if it is closed. Most people don't even realize when their dog gets fleas. Not something I want crawling on clothes in a clothing store, etc.

Wow, did not mean to stir up such a storm, it was only a smart a$$ comment!! And yes I am one of those people who take their dogs almost everywhere I go. AND as McheleM stated about speaking her mind, I do sometimes say something back but I try not to say a hurtful thing as you can never know where the other person is coming from. About the posts that apply to ME, the posts about the children vs dogs are WAY beyond me, I have both and love both.
1. The Store was not posted, if it had been we would not have gone in, simple as that. I am a small business owner my self and respect the time, effort and expense of the business. It was the attitude. Being polite does not cost you anything, rudeness costs you customers and with that $$ which you can't afford to lose in this economy. If it's posted I take my $$$ some place else, and I tell the mgr why, it's only fair they know. And ppl are right what applies to one chain store should apply to all not diff store to store, it's confusing, with that said, I do not believe in the "sneak", emergencies are a understandable, other wise, like tattoos, loud and proud, Sprocket's feet do not touch the floor or the merchandise or even a shopping cart. Sprocket is my shopper. You can not leave the dog in the car it is against the law in my state, you can leave kids, not dogs go figure.
2. Service dogs/animals: I have worked with 2 different people who have raised puppies for the organizations and so have seen what goes into, in a small way, dogs in the office, some of the training OMG, incredible, and I have a friend who received a service dog, a golden lab, her words and I will not use the dogs name "she (the dog) is A GIFT FROM GOD", that is the weight of the value of a service animal, we think of dog but they could be other types too. My friend is now able to be out of the house for the first time, as free as she will ever be. We all have seen service dogs of all kinds we would none of us like to be on the receiving end of a police dog or hope to need a rescue dog.

I forgot about the "redhead" comment, come on ppl, most of our dogs are redheads. They start off with the tan heads with a hint of red and as they age, it turns into the most beautiful shade of auburn red or copper or strawberry or half a dozen colors of red. Or maybe that many shades of red all at once, you couldn't pay for such a "job" at the hairdresser, we couldn't afford it LOL. I know as it gets to be summer Sprocket gets to be a strawberry blonde, oh those silver hi lights w/charcoal low lights on his back, nice hair. Like I said, we couldn't pay for the hair they have naturally. Redheads, :D don't think about it too much, it's like the comment "a dog? haven't told him he's adopted yet!" Just a come back.

If the store sold any grocery type items then it wouldnt need to be posted, as it is considered a health code violations in many counties in California.

Frankly it surprises me that you, as a small business owner, would talk to another store employee in that manner. I'm quite sure your attitude isn't going to make the store change their "no pets " policy any time soon.

I will admit, I did get a kick out of you calling the store employee "miss VIP". I've heard from many people when I first got Rhett "oh, are you going to turn in to one of THOSE type people?" When I asked what that meant, they said "one of those fake star wannabes who carry a little dog around with them every where." Of course, their attitude changed as soon as they met Rhett. LOL.

You make a good point. My personality makes me want to be snappy and rude back to a stranger's smart comment many times, but because I am a small business owner, and have encountered many people coming into my shop, and can't remember them all, I'm afraid I may lash out at someone who was or may be a customer. Unless it's totally uncalled for, I just have to keep my mouth shut. I will however, come on YT and rant away. LOL

Also as a small business owner, and a part of the community, word gets around fast, good or bad. However, dogs are always welcome in my shop. :D