It’s a metal bowl with a standard metal fountain attachment with a concrete base.
The dog puts his front paws on the edge of the bowl.
The owner pushes the button with his or her hand to activate the fountain.
The dog laps the water as it arcs over the bowl (not licking or touching the fountain part itself or the the hole where the water comes out).
My thought: Who cares? The dog is not touching or contaminating the spot where the water comes out. All the excess water falls into a bowl that’s already filthy. You know what those pesky kids do to that fountain when nobody’s looking?
Agree. Where are the germs getting, exactly, that affects anyone? Unless you’re washing your face in the basin or something, it’s about as gross as, well, the concept of a public water fountain.
Not gross and I lift up my dog to do this in parks (when we live in countries that have ‘em). He doesn’t put his lips on it or nothin’ , just takes a few polite slurps then on we go.
I know you’re saying “but his lips aren’t touching any part of the fountain!” but how do I know that you were vigilant about that when I see you sticking your dog’s disgusting face into the fountain? Sorry but no. I vote for gross.
Gross. Dogs drool, slobber, and lick way more than the average human and I have a horrible aversion to saliva. As in, I sometimes have to get an entirely new glass of water halfway through because I don’t like how the rim looks where my mouth touched it. Yes, there may be something wrong with me.
I’m sorry it’s just gross. But if I was thirsty I probably wouldn’t be so squicked out I couldn’t splash about some water to rinse off any dog slobber (and of course they do when they’re licking water with their tongues!) and have myself a sip. It kinda grosses me out when my cat walks by and her tail hits my glass. I still drink my tea though.
If he’s touching the fountain head, I suppose it could conceivably be gross. But who cares if there’s dog saliva in the bowl? You guys aren’t drinking out of the bowl, are you?
My standards are pretty low, though. I left a glass of wine outside for a minute today and found a bee in it when I came back. I fished the poor thing out and finished the glass. And kept drinking from it. I like to think that’s what makes my immune system so strong.