Dog Community

Posted : 1/28/2007 2:52:15 AM

Gypsy screams like she's being beaten if she's left outside the store. I did it ONCE--never again. Her marking are VERY distinctive, but she could still be stolen. However, I don't think anyone WOULD take a dog that sounds as if someone is pullling her claws out!! The noise she makes would make doubly sure that everyone noticed!!!

janetmichel3009

Posted : 1/28/2007 3:05:09 AM

i used to tie mine up right next to the door of the grocery store, where i knew the cashiers. they work right next to the door and keep an eye on the dogs for the few seconds i would spend behind a shelf etc. but i would still be very nervous..

Lilea Storm

Posted : 1/28/2007 3:20:33 AM

Never ever ever. I'm very nervous about leaving her in the car. I never locked my car doors at a store or something until I got Tasha and had to leave her in the car sometimes. Anything could happen if she was tied up outside, she could be stolen, teased, abused, who knows what. Even in a small town I would never leave an animal unnatended like that, its just like leaving a small child.

Xerxes

Posted : 1/28/2007 8:05:04 AM

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

I do it here because I live in a neighborhood where:

1. Folks watch out for one another generally
2. Everybody knows that my dog is mine and not someone else's.
3. There are usually enough people around to make sure crimes of opportunity don't happen.

And:

1. My dog is nice
2. And he doesn't bark like a jerk when I go into stores.

If any of these statements were not true, I'd reconsider.

Guess I'm out because #1, 2, and 3 from the first part don't apply to this area. and though I've never done it, I think #2 from the second part wouldn't apply either. Of course #1 is debateable too if my dogs don't know the person.

Deb

Posted : 1/28/2007 8:32:25 AM

That's too bad, Ed! Where is this harsh frontier where no one watches out for their fellow-human?

(I've got to say, this is one of my favorite things about living in a city)

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 1/28/2007 11:41:54 AM

Plenty of people round here do it - dashing in to the co-op or convenience store for something quick and leaving the dog tied to the ubiquitous bike rack.

Just once, I was walking with

ofi (then about 9 months old and quite sizeable and very friendly) to our do park and had not been able to find a bottle/jug with lid to bring water for him. On our way, we had to pass a small grocery store and there is a bike rack in front of the nearly floor to ceiling windowed store front. I thought I'd just duck in to get a gallon of spring water to carry along the last few blocks to the park. I secured his leash to the bike rack, gave him a treat and told him to stay. I then literally ran into the store straight for the water (very near front) and as I was trotting back to the registers, someone cried out, "There's a dog in the store!" And indeed, there was Pofi, who had backed out of his harness, trotting happily toward me having just navigated the two sets of automatic opening doors as if he'd done so dozens of times before. The look on his face showed he was clearly quite pleased with himself to have corrected my obvious oversight! I droppd the water at the register calling, "Sorry!" over my shoulder and hustled him out!

So that was the first and last time for Po!

denise m

Posted : 1/28/2007 12:40:35 PM

I quite often walk Kobi the the corner store and I tie him to the post while I run in. Although I know he would probably leave happily with anyone who offered him food, because he is big and black, people naturally approch him with caution. If he were a sweet little white fur ball I would not leave him for a second.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 1/28/2007 12:49:41 PM

I think it's pretty safe here because I see dogs tied outside grocery stores and coffee shops all the time. Personally, I'm not comfortable with it. If I happen to decide to take Max with me to Noah's for bagels/coffee, I'll bring someone else with me so someone can go inside and order and someone can stay with him. I haven't had to use the bathroom at a rest stop (no trips) but I have taken him into the bathrooms along the bike path in the park. Given the condition that most people leave public restrooms in, there's no reason that I can see that anyone should have a problem with a dog in there. I just slip the loop of his leash over the hook on the back of the door and we 're in and out in just a couple of minutes.

Joyce

Laurelin_429

Posted : 1/28/2007 1:49:30 PM

I wouldn't ever do it. Why risk it? I'm paranoid, but I can just see someone letting one of the dogs off the leash or scaring Trey as he's timid to begin with, or walking off with them. It all comes down to the fact that I don't trust people no matter how small the town. I don't even trust the dogs locked up in crates in another room while we were visiting relatives, so I'd go nuts if I left them outside with the public.

Like it's been said before, small, fluffy dogs would probably be the first to go. And I would be especially nervous about the little two with the small dog fad. Especially since they're both intact.

tina robinson

Posted : 1/28/2007 2:33:01 PM

I do, depending on where I go, I will if it is a place where I can tie them up and keep my eye on them. Or my son is with me and he can keep his eye on them from the window and I can see him from where I am, like the bank, or 7-11 or a video store, but never places like wal-mart where I can not see them. I know of a lady back home that takes her golden retriever with her everywhere and one day while grocery shopping someone did try and take him, one of the employees knew her and her dog and stopped the people from taking him. Now she has him on a chain leash that is locked around his neck and then locked to the pole she ties him too.

I have had people flat out tell me they would steal my dogs given the chance. I do take them in the car wiht me alot, and they get left in it, but I live in northern canada and only have to worry about heat for about 4 months a year.

Becka

Posted : 1/28/2007 2:58:25 PM

I live in a safe town, but I think I couldn't do it either, unless it was an emergency. It's a shame though, because it is such a pleasant walk. There is a starbuck's attached though and the entrance to that is on a patio. If I tied them at the patio, I could duck in for a cup of coffee, all the while being able to see them. I don't really go there for coffee, but maybe sometimes when the weather is nice I could walk up there with them and treat myself to a drink.

Xerxes

Posted : 1/28/2007 3:48:39 PM

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

That's too bad, Ed! Where is this harsh frontier where no one watches out for their fellow-human?

(I've got to say, this is one of my favorite things about living in a city)

I'm just outside of DC, a land where NOBODY gives a rats--- about their neighbor.

Maxs Mom

Posted : 1/28/2007 6:40:13 PM

I wouldn't leave mine either. I don't even leave mine in my back yard (fenced, nice neighborhood) for quick runs to the store. I worry something could happen. I know it could happen in my house too, but if I left them out I would never live my self down.

Ann

Kara

Posted : 1/28/2007 7:46:50 PM

If Sam was a well behaved dog in a safe neighborhod and in a store where I can see outside and be able to run outside and yell at whoever was teasing him, then yes. But probably not because I jsut don't know what he would do if somebody ran up to him and started prodding him with a stick or teasing him...

gayle

Posted : 1/29/2007 2:10:02 AM

never.

Would you leave your dog outside a store?