# Bubastis pits Seeing-Eye Dogs; Confirms Asshole Status **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672 "2006-02-22T19:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/81 "2006-02-24T08:42:43Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > This really doesn’t make much sense. I understand the logic behind not be allowed to ask the nature of the dog’s service, and maybe owners don’t want to “advertise” the animal’s service status by making it wear a cape or whatever, but what would be wrong with requiring a simple ID card to be produced on request? > > We don’t let people park in handicap spots just because they claim to be disabled – they have to show the card/tag. Why not require the same of service animals? No more impostors. We had an official letter from GDB stating the regulations that allowed our guide dog puppy into restaurants and stuff. They also wore jackets when working. We went to a farmer’s market once, where dogs were not allowed. A cop had kicked out a non-working dog, but we heard him explain how ours was allowed in. I think we’ve used the letter once in four dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/82 "2006-02-24T08:43:57Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > I can’t help but giggle evilly, imagining a bunch of wailing kids in one corner with signs around their necks that say “REJECTED”…😃 The politically correct term is “career changed.” 🙂 (We had two, both for health reasons, who took about two seconds to find a home.) ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/83 "2006-02-24T11:31:02Z")
> [@Knowed Out](#): > > Wait a sec, how was the dog at the table next to you breathing on your plate? Was the blind guy sitting on your lap or something? I mean, for the dog to breathe on your food, either it was sitting upright in a chair next to you or it had a giraffe-like neck. That’s what I’ve been wondering about while reading this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/84 "2006-02-24T17:03:33Z")
This article details some of the differences between human and dog mouths. Sounds like you’re better off with the dog breathing on your plate than another human at least: [http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/dogmouth.html](http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/dogmouth.html) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/85 "2006-02-24T17:06:29Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > > [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > > > I can’t help but giggle evilly, imagining a bunch of wailing kids in one corner with signs around their necks that say “REJECTED”… > > The politically correct term is “career changed.” 🙂 > …snip… I thought it was “reallocated sentient resources”? 😉 Jim ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/86 "2006-02-24T17:40:28Z")
Just had a stray thought – I _assume_ the owners (users? what’s the proper term) of these various guide dogs are immune from poop scooping laws? Because I hate them enough as it is, and can’t imagine having to tackle it from a wheelchair or, even worse, being blind. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/87 "2006-02-24T17:44:14Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Just had a stray thought – I _assume_ the owners (users? what’s the proper term) of these various guide dogs are immune from poop scooping laws? > > Because I hate them enough as it is, and can’t imagine having to tackle it from a wheelchair or, even worse, being blind. :eek: There are exceptions in the bylaws for the blind and for those who are wheelchair _bound_ with specific problems with their upper body and range of motion. I have seen many wheelchair users manage to pick up just fine (the disposable scoops are awesome, if you can get them - they add to the reach, just enough, and you can throw them out!) Many blind handlers I know usually take the dog out for a potty break with someone who can help them pick up after the dog. These dogs are, normally, trained to eliminate (!) on command. This makes it practical for pick-up purposes, and for scheduling as well. Other than for those exceptions, service dogs are not immune from poop scooping laws. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/88 "2006-02-24T18:46:06Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Just had a stray thought – I _assume_ the owners (users? what’s the proper term) of these various guide dogs are immune from poop scooping laws? > > Because I hate them enough as it is, and can’t imagine having to tackle it from a wheelchair or, even worse, being blind. :eek: I don’t know about the law, but I knew of a blind guy from another message board I used to belong to, and he mentioned that when he took his (service) dog out to relieve itself, he would clean it up himself. I don’t recall him specifying the mechanics of it, but he didn’t have the attitude that he should avoid the responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/89 "2006-02-24T19:24:27Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > **bubastis** : You are absolutely correct, you are an asshole. You’ve not made the argument. First, the OP didn’t make the other guy feel uncomfortable, which is the first rule of etiquette. Second, it’s obvious that the OP feels seeing-eye dogs are a sacred cow and bringing the issue up would automatically make him the asshole. Suspicion confirmed. So some prick has his big dog breathing dog breath all over somebody else, with the attendant sickening noises and possibly drool, right in the middle of that person’s meal. Wait, let me guess, the blind guy couldn’t tell that there was a table near by hearing, could he? Nor does the blind guy have any familiarity with dogs whatsoever and couldn’t say something like, “Excuse me, I can’t see you, but I can hear you, so I know you’re there. Is the dog bothering you?” Or maybe, “Gosh, my 120-pound dog is sitting in the middle of the aisle, can I help make it less inconvenient?” Being blind is not writ to be rude. **bubastis** may be an asshole; however, such status is not garnered by his OP in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/90 "2006-02-24T19:38:41Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > You’ve not made the argument. First, the OP didn’t make the other guy feel uncomfortable, which is the first rule of etiquette. Second, it’s obvious that the OP feels seeing-eye dogs are a sacred cow and bringing the issue up would automatically make him the asshole. Suspicion confirmed. So some prick has his big dog breathing dog breath all over somebody else, with the attendant sickening noises and possibly drool, right in the middle of that person’s meal. Wait, let me guess, the blind guy couldn’t tell that there was a table near by hearing, could he? Nor does the blind guy have any familiarity with dogs whatsoever and couldn’t say something like, “Excuse me, I can’t see you, but I can hear you, so I know you’re there. Is the dog bothering you?” Or maybe, “Gosh, my 120-pound dog is sitting in the middle of the aisle, can I help make it less inconvenient?” Being blind is not writ to be rude. > > **bubastis** may be an asshole; however, such status is not garnered by his OP in this thread. [You just took my first line of a long post out of context](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7132025&postcount=48). If you look [a post before mine](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7131267&postcount=35) someone mention that \*\*bubastis \*\* was not getting the reaction he was expecting. The line is half in jest. Aren’t you suppose to be polite and show that you snipped my post instead of making it look like I just \*pooped \* in the thread? Jim ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/91 "2006-02-25T01:48:49Z")
> [@YaWanna](#): > > I don’t know about the law, but I knew of a blind guy from another message board I used to belong to, and he mentioned that when he took his (service) dog out to relieve itself, he would clean it up himself. I don’t recall him specifying the mechanics of it, but he didn’t have the attitude that he should avoid the responsibility. One of the first things you teach your puppy is to relieve on command. So, the blind person can have the dog go where it is convenient to clean. (Don’t say “do your business” around a guide, or you might get a surprise. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Incantatrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/46a35a/32.png) [@Incantatrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incantatrix)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/92 "2006-02-25T02:31:42Z")
I have given this a lot of thought since it was first posted. My immediate gut reaction was to dismiss this without saying anything, but I feel that I would like to add my 2c 🙂 Perhaps the whole need to put this in a pit thread could have been avoided by a simple word to the wait-staff. They could have shifted you, they could have shifted the blind man and his “offending” animal. **Bubatstis** could have said something, as others have pointed out. I am learning daily, that a lot of people just don’t see ( 😛 ) that they are inconveniencing others. And when it’s _nicely_ pointed out, I find that most of people are mortified. Of course there’s the minority of people who are assholes and just don’t care. But mostly I like to think that people are nice. I think that if a restaurant was to ban seeing eye dogs, it would be a place that I wouldn’t like to visit. And I’d be happy to swap places with someone like the OP who clearly had an issue with it should a similar incident occur around me. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/93 "2006-02-25T04:20:41Z")
I was in a local grocery store, and a woman came in with a dog on a leash. This dog did not have a ‘companion dog’ vest on, and as far as could be observed, with merely a pet. Also, the dog was licking surfaces in the area where bakery goods are displayed. I alerted employees, who spread their hands at me helplessly, and said they couldn’t make the woman take the dog out because she claims it’s a “companion dog” and that she’s allowed by law to have it where she is. I think she was lying to them. I’m reasonably sure that any trained CD would a) be wearing an official vest or collar and b) have better manners than to scrounge like that in a public building. But, I at least asked the employees to wash down and disinfect the places the dog had been licking. I love dogs. I do not love them licking things in the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/94 "2006-02-25T08:02:26Z")
**Chotii** - Even of the dog had it’s CD, CDX or UD, that doesn’t mean it has automatic access to all public buildings, as a service dog does. The management of the store needs to show a little backbone. StG ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/95 "2006-02-25T08:04:31Z")
Wow - I just realized that I’ve been a Doper since '99 and this is my first ever post in the Pit. I don’t normally even read Pit posts. StG ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/96 "2006-02-25T08:07:30Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Wow - I just realized that I’ve been a Doper since '99 and this is my first ever post in the Pit. I don’t normally even read Pit posts. > > StG Congrats on popping your pit cherry. If it makes you feel better this pit thread has been borderline IMHO from the beginning. Jim ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/97 "2006-02-25T13:33:24Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > I’ve been to the movies with blind people on quite a few occasions. They can actually follow the movie quite well just by sound. Once in a while they might quietly ask a question about what’s going on, but usually they don’t have to. They watch TV, too. Reminds me of a Family Guy episode where Brian has to act as a guide dog for a blind person. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/98 "2006-03-02T16:00:18Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I’m perfectly capable of making my needs known, and can and do. What about somebody who comes in 10 minutes after the dog has left and isn’t aware there was an animal sitting there? Someone with allergies, perhaps? > > I’m capable of handling myself when I know there’s a risk. That’s a far cry from saying that “dog hygiene isn’t a problem” and pretending that it’s always true. I suspect that if somebody is that sensitive to germs, they probably shouldn’t be out of their home in the first place… ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/99 "2006-03-02T16:09:55Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Ever been to France? > > If this bothers you, don’t go to France. That’s a totally unfair comparison. French guide dogs smoke, and they poop in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672/100 "2006-03-02T17:28:46Z")
> [@Knowed Out](#): > > Wait a sec, how was the dog at the table next to you breathing on your plate? Was the blind guy sitting on your lap or something? I mean, for the dog to breathe on your food, either it was sitting upright in a chair next to you or it had a giraffe-like neck. Have you been around full-grown shepherds? If on a sit, their heads easily clear most tables. My parents’ shepherd was able to rest his chin on the table (before they trained him out of it) without any effort. If the tables in the restaurant were close enough together, as the OP implies, then the dog wouldn’t need to be in a chair or have a really long neck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubastis-pits-seeing-eye-dogs-confirms-asshole-status/345672.md?page=6)