Dogs are a commonly adorable sight and are often referred to as “man’s best friend,” but, is this the one best friend that you shouldn’t be allowed to shop with?
Being allergic to dogs is a common allergy. According to aafa.org, pet allergies are so common that nearly 30% of people with allergies have allergic reactions to dogs or cats. Imagine those with pet allergies going into Wal-Mart or ShopRite, shopping for groceries and then, lo and behold, they see a dog sitting in a cart– something that many people are allergic to, and something that may or may not carry diseases and bacteria– is being placed into a cart that is used by dozens of people every day.
People who have allergies to dogs and come into contact with them in public may suffer from an extreme allergic reaction. For someone who has a minor allergy to dogs, they may only get a small rash, but in most cases, they may break out into hives. If we make accommodations for those with peanut allergies, then why don’t we make the same accommodations for those pets allergies?
A common myth is that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than humans. Now, if humans drank toilet water and ate garbage, this myth may be true, but that is not the case. Since a dog’s mouth contains bacteria and diseases, a small child sitting in a cart that a dog had just been in could be at risk for diseases such as ringworm.
There are even some people who bring their dogs with them simply because they do not want to leave them in the car or home alone. In some cases, people have even tried to sneak their dogs in as service dogs, which is putting a bad name on those who actually need to have a service dog with them.
People are being put at risk by simply passing a dog in public. So, the question is, was making that child or adult sick really worth you bringing your dog with you to the store?
