got kicked out of trader joes!!!!
 

ok i know i may be in the wrong but i need to vent...Today, like many times before I went to "trader Joes" , for those of you that dont know its a supermarket...Bruno comes with me in his bag..Its a mesh see through bag that is zippered up..Well as i was at the checkout counter getting ready to pay for my items, this elderly couple in front of me who just finished paying started to complain that i had a dog in my bag..i guess as they saw that the kid at the checkout just smiled she got more upset and went to get a manager...manager came and said in a very rude manner "dogs are not allowed and you have to leave"..I Couldn't believe it...He is in a bag, quiet , unable to touch anything..I asked if I could at least finish paying for my items and she said no...I admit, the fury in me at that elderly couple put me in a rage and i felt the female shift manager was even worse.. The old lady had such a smug look on her face like she won..I understand about healthcode violations but give me a break!!! whats the difference about a large seeing eye dog? that can walk around and drool...I left the store so angry because my little bruno who weighs 4lbs is so precious...Humans are nastier and can carry more germs..I ran into the couple in the parking lot and shouted that my dog was cleaner than thier face and that they obliviously are no dog lovers...Dont they have anything better to do ?? Im so mad that i feel like calling the head manager and explaing the situation..If they are that strict then why isnt their a sign at the door? I definitely respect places that say "no pets allowed".. Im sorry for rambling on but im still fuming and i know i wont be returning to that store...Has this happened to anyone else before and how did you handle it????....

I'm sorry that happened to you, I was asked to leave a place when Joey was in a bag and it feels like such a slap in the face. There's no way we can leave our babies in the car here, it's just too hot. I don't understand why they can't go in if they are in a bag, I mean, how is that contamination? Now that I think about it, there would be some irresponsible pet owners that would allow their dog out of the bag, and they ruin it for all. Some store managers won't say anything, unless someone complains. Anyway, don’t take it personally, I feel sorry for the woman who had to complain about this, she probably hasn't even had the love of a pet.

Id be pissed off too. Sorry this happened to you. I know I take puppy everywhere with me, I've even had security at the mall and Ross stores come hold my puppy. I just usually have her in my purse. She always sticks her little head out and looks around. She's very quiet and doesn't bark, cry or whine. If we go to restaurants and they have outside seating, I'll put her the stroller. Some people have nothing better to do but find something to complain about. Life's to short to be doing that, they are better off minding their own business and move on with life with a smile!:rolleyes::rolleyes:

While I generally agree with grocery store/food establishment policies prohibiting pets, I can't help thinking about the humans I have seen contaminating products at the store. :p

Trader Joe's should have let you pay and asked that in the future that you not bring your baby.

I'm sorry these people put a cloud over your day.

Mia goes everywhere, and I do mean everywhere with me. If we are caught, I simply apologize, and leave. My friend is inspector for the local county public school cafeterias. She said if there were a violation, the place would have to be closed down and cleaned. This manager at Trader Joes knows he could be shut down, and fined. He could lose his job. If he had seen you, you'd still be ask to leave, but it probably wouldn't have been as bad. He knew if he didn't react strongly, the couple would call the health department to complain, and his store would be in a heap of trouble. I agree, service or not, a dog is a dog, but the law is the law, and service animals are protected. I personally think poopy diaper babies and sick, runny nose toddlers are more of a health risk. It's frustrating, but don't be too upset. I do understand you though.

:thumbup: I almost stepped in a dirty diaper and mess left on the floor at a grocery store! :eek: I'm sure the baby was sick, but why didn't the parent alert someone in the store to help clean up?

I'm sorry that they complained and that the manager was rude. ...but TJ's (aside from the rudeness) is in the right. It is common knowledge that animals are not allowed where food is sold. There have to be rules. If small dogs in bags are allowed then that is discrimination against large dogs. And in this worls people get really grumpy about things like that. And then there would have to be policies about the size of the bag (medium breeds can fit in duffle bags). Vaccines may not be up to date. So many animals have fleas and their owners don't know it. Mesh can rip. Some dogs can open zippers. Then cats have to be allowed as long as they are in a bag. How about ferrets and pet rars? Piglets? These are pets to some people... I think if a dog is going to be sneaked in then to each their own but realize it is a legal issue and may be dealt with harshly. It puts business owners in a very awkward position.

I do see the point about service dogs; however, for the people that use them it is a necessity and not so much an option. If one needs a pup with them for medical or psychological ussues then there is a process for that. Most people who require service animals probably would like nothing more than to NOT take them everywhere.

I'm sorry they were rude to you but I'm 100% on the stores side on this one. It's pretty common knowledge to not take your pet to a store unless it says pets allowed or a pet store( petsmart, petco, etc..)

I completely agree with you...but just try to see it from the managers side...like KimInMd says, he was "putting on a show" for the azzoles that complained...if he hadnt, they would have gone over his head, he probably would have lost his job, and the store would have probably been fines, because those old farts would not have stopped at corporate headquarters, they would have reported it to the Health Department. I hope that old woman has nightmares about snotty, runny nosed little yelling, nasty kids, sneezing and coughing and spitting all over the fruit and veggies that she has to EAT, while from inside a little purse, she is being watched by two little sweet Yorkie eyes!!!!!!!!

I agree. There's a sign that says no animals permitted (except handicap service animals). You were wrong for trying to sneak your dog into the store, knowing he wasn't allowed.

i've never fully understood why small dogs in a bag are a health risk myself, but it's one of those things. if they allow our small dogs in our purses then they will have to start to allow all dogs and before long it's really just a madhouse of pets in and out of the grocery store. sorry but i don't want to buy my meat at a counter drooled and slobbered on by someone's saint bernard or find someone's pet snake that was in their purse that got loost in aisle 5. it's just a downhill battle if they allow one person to do something ya know. and as for the babies comment. sure some are pretty yucky, but they are children and in our world children will always be more welcome than pets...(at least in most places ;) )

I too understand the whole health thing with pets but, as many have already said...she should have quietly told you to pay for your groceries and not to bring the dog back. I too have seen some pretty nasty looking people in the grocery stores...our dogs are probably cleaner than some of these people...I think that Old (woman)HAG..did I say that out loud! :eek: just wanted to cause an issue...I had to bring Sadie to the vets a few weeks back...I needed to run into the store...well it was like 95 outside...I wasn't about to leave her in the care even for a second...so I brought her in with me...I apologized to the woman and told her that I would NOT leave my dog in the care....especially on such a hot day....she never said a word! Some people just like to be heard.

I am very sorry for the ugly moment. I do not take Mina in any store that sells open food,like produce. That being said I think that the manager should of handled it in a more respectful manner. As for the elderly couple I think that I would of asked the lady if she was really proud of herself and felt that she had done her good deed for the day.
If this bothers you a lot then climb the foodchain so to speak and complain about how the situation was handled. You certainly have the right to choose not to set foot in the place again.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

This 100000x.

I like dogs a lot more than kids most of the time (lol) but kids are... kids. You aren't allowed to just leave them at home for an hour by themselves while you run to the store. You CAN do that with a dog.

I bring Jackson as many places as he possibly can go with me, but I realize he cannot go everywhere. He's perfectly fine at home while I grocery shop for an hour or two. They will survive.

I never look at dogs as just "dogs" but it's just bad all around. One bad apple always spoils the whole bunch.... we have so few places we can take dogs, and some people that don't follow the rules always seem to ruin it. I just think following the rules regarding our pets is important. Like said above, who is to say if you can bring your small dog into TJ's, why can't I bring a 100lb German Shepherd?

While I'm sorry you had to go through that fustrating and humiliating experience, I agree with most commenters here. There are various factors:

1. It's common sense (health code) that PETS are not allowed where food is sold
2. It's disrespectful: some people don't consider hygienic, others don't like dogs, & they have the right to shop comfortably.
3. Self-centered: many times pet owners are concentrated on their "I want my dog by my side everywhere," but not on others or the pet. I think dogs feel better left in their homes running free, jumping, eating, playing and not confined to a small unconfortable bag

We need to respect other's rights, consider more the well-baing of our pets and stop thinking omly on what one wants. There's so many places dogs can be taken without the need to punish them by keeping in a bag & experience a boring trip to the store. They aren't babies. We can leave them home safe, confortable & everyone's happy.

Sorry if ths is not comforting , but you and your furbabe don't have to go though those unnecessary hassless. Good luck