Last summer I visited my brother in San Diego and one evening we went to downtown San Diego for dinner. We found a great Italian restaurant and decided to be seated at the outside tables. Downtown San Diego is lively at night and we were enjoying both the food and the people watching. A couple walked by pushing a stroller. That's when I said "What the f^&k?" There wasn't a baby in the stroller, but a hairy little dog. I remember thinking at the time something unkind about those crazy Californians.
Last week I'm in Macy's in the midst of hoards of holiday shoppers. An older couple (yeah, Nana's still in denial...they were probably my age) passes me pushing a stroller and I think "How nice, they're out with a grandchild." Nope, it's a f^%king dog! The aisles of the stores are jammed with people and they're pushing around a huge stroller with a dog. Give me a break!
Now, before you start sending me hate mail, please understand that I don't dislike animals. I think a working service dog has every right to be in Macy's, but at the height of Christmas frenzy, I think that precious little Fifi could be left at home or at doggy daycare.
Why are people compelled to drag their dogs everywhere these days? It can't be fun for dogs to be exposed to the noise and crowds at the mall during the Christmas season. What is wrong with people that they can't leave a dog for an hour or two to go shopping? To tell you the truth I feel the same way about small children in the stores at Christmas...but you have to hire a babysitter for a child!
Call me old fashioned, but I think dogs belong in backyards, and parks, and running free in the fields not in the shoe department of Macy's.
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Fern says she heartily agrees.
ReplyDeleteSo many people use dogs as substitutes for children, so it makes sense they can't leave Fido alone for all that time! Not understanding the fascination with either dogs or kids being around all the time, I'm with you, Nana!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more about leaving the kids behind during holiday shopping season. The parents are usually acting like 4 year olds already so why add actual four year olds into the mix? My shopping list is sitting beside my keyboard right now (for those who I don't donate to charity on behalf of) and every time I glance at it my palms get clammy. Maybe those people brought their dogs in strollers so in case the crowds get too overwhelming they can let them out to sic the offenders...???
ReplyDelete"What is wrong with people that they can't leave a dog for an hour..."
ReplyDeleteSeparation anxiety... the dog's that is. Many folks have their dogs so messed up that, while they're away, the little roach will trash the place.
Nana I have just ordered my own doggy stroller for the little asbo hounds, what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteOK seriously why would you put a dog in a stroller, my dogs take every opportunity to run around and play. Star might like a ride after a run around but for Sasha it would be torture.
I like to take my dogs places but wouldn't want them to be in the Christmas shopping crowds. Mine come visiting or to summer fayres, parks beaches even a duck race but shopping no way. Surely no dogs allowed applies even if the dog is in a pram?
Star and Sasha get separation anxiety, they don't mind me leaving them on their own but if I take one and try to leave the other we have howling. It's my fault for not splitting them up regularly when they were babies ......... sorry puppies, I mean puppies.
Maybe the parents were just short-sighted and made a mistake: Baby was at home, curled up in the dog basket.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I am laughing at what Fran has to say! I agree with you on this. The first time I saw a dog in a stroller, I also thought the person was just a bit crazy. Then, I started seeing them everywhere.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday, my hubby and I went on our walk at our river walk. An older couple and a middle aged guy got out of the car near us. The proceeded to put together some contraption that I had not seen before. I wondered if it was a type of child carrier for a bike. Later, I saw them walking two bull dogs. One was on a leash and the other was in this fancy stroller.
I kid you not; a bull dog was in the stroller! Now, I have had all my images of bull dogs shattered. Bull dogs were our mascot where I taught. I never imagined one in a stroller!
I totally agree dogs and kids should be left at home. I never wanted to take my kids with me shopping.
ReplyDeleteYou're preaching to the choir here. Great post.
ReplyDeleteOh this is priceless. Until recently, I had two wonderful dogs....Saint Bernards...The only stroller I figure I could use would be one that they would be hitched to carrying me. I now have a "kick me" dog Shits zoo cross and I treat her just like I did the big dogs, she has a great attitude and I don't think it would be fair to put her in a rolling cage. You're so funny. I love WTF Wednesday with you much more than the wordless Wednesday of the same folks who push their dogs in strollers. tee hee, The Olde Bagg herself, Linda
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