I almost posted this in this thread. But, it was so damn civilized that I couldn’t mar it with my bitching.
I really wish it was required by law to have all service dogs wear ID. That way, we don’t have do deal with dipshits who bring their ugly little rat dogs shopping and claim, “but little Buffy is a SERRRVIIICE dog.”
I am so sick of people who think that just because their dog is cute and little, that they can bring them anywhere. I work at Home Depot. It is a dangerous place for people. It is even more dangerous for dogs. It’s a fucking warehouse people!! I’ve seen people bring their dogs in the store and leave them sitting in the carriage while they go off an do their shopping. I was told a story just yesterday about a dalmation puppy which was sitting in the place normally reserved for a small child. The puppy slid through and was hanging by it’s neck. The owner wasn’t around. A few people tried to help the dog but it kept trying to bite them. I have seen little yellow puddles in the middle of my department. Nowhere in my job description does it state that I should have to clean up piss - human or otherwise.
I would hate to see the aftermath if a dog escaped from its owner and while wondering the store decided to stop and eat something. I can guarantee that if someone’s dog died as a result of eating something in our store, we would be sued. And in this idiotic society, the negligent owner would win. We do everything we can to keep the store safe. But, most of our time is taken up with watching out for free range children, idiot adults who think that lumber carts are surfboards, machomen who can’t read the employee use only sign on ladders, and occasionally actually assisting a shopper. We don’t have the time to watch out for small animals too.
I love my little bunny and he’s a hell of a lot better behaved than most dogs. He doesn’t lick or pant or make any noise at all. I’m sure he’d love to get out of the house every once in a while*. But, I leave him home. Why? Because it’s fucking common sense. If your animal is not trained specifically to do some needed service - leave it the fuck home.
*Yes, I’m being sarcastic. My bunny would probably drop dead of fright if I took him to Home Depot. Which makes me think, all these timid little rat dogs whose main purpose in life is to shake and piss, probably don’t like crowds and loud noises either. What the hell would possess someone to bring a poodle with them to get some tile cut? I have to wear ear protection when I cut tile. Dog hearing is more sensitive than human hearing. Just imagine how the sound of ceramic being cut by a saw sounds to your sweet little Buffy.
I agree with what you said about the dogs, but hey if you weren’t wasting so much time mopping up piss and chasing kids, we wouldn’t give up and get the stuff ourselves.
Really I hate going to my local Home Depot, I can never get help and you would think I was asking for a workers firstborn to get lumber cut. I think most of us use the ladders not out of being machomen but out of frustration. Sorry, the stores Home Depot put out business didn’t require ladders to get their inventory.
Q: How can I tell if an animal is really a service animal and not just a pet?
A: Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers. If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. However, an individual who is going to a restaurant or theater is not likely to be carrying documentation of his or her medical condition or disability. Therefore, such documentation generally may not be required as a condition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability.
Still, it seems it would be easy enough for management to weed out people with puppies in carts. Ridiculous that they allow it and too bad you have to deal with it.
I went to Home Depot frequently until Lowes came to town. The final straw with Home Depot was when I needed 150 odd bags of concrete. I was in a leg cast at the time and all those orange vests that where in the store when I arrived, disappeared.
It took over 20 minutes and a old lady cashier coming out to help before a younger gentlemen came out and told her he had it. She went inside, and he promptly picked up his little phone/walkie talkie thing and held up his hand in a wait a minute stance disappeared inside the store. I waited for 10 minutes, went back in to the service desk, made sure my bitch was heard, and walked out. The 50 some bags already loaded I promptly and not so neatly unloaded and left. (No didn’t break them, just threw them half assed on the pile)
Went to Lowes, they brought out the forklift, loaded up the trailer. Now I apologize,
if I knew they where cleaning up after cart skaters and doggie urine I would of forgiven them.
I understand everyone’s complaints about stores like HD and Lowes. I’ve made most of them myself. Those complaints are why I make every effort to do my job better than even management expects. I love my job and I want my customers to keep coming back. Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way. Too many people don’t have any desire to take pride in their work. I have had people tell me that my job isn’t anything to brag about - after all, I only work in retail. They don’t understand that to some people, “You can do it, We can help” actually holds some value. I feel so much pride and accomplishment when a customer comes back to thank me for helping with their project.
But, with every wonderful job comes unpleasantness. I wish I could spend my whole day helping people to exand their horizons while increasing the value of their house. Part of my job is ensuring the safety of all employees and customers. It is part of all of our jobs. It seems so stupid having to tell people that they’re putting themselves and others in danger. But, I will do it because it is necessary.
We should not even have to wonder if a dog in a store is a service dog or not. People should stop and think for even one minute before they bring their little pet into a place like Home Depot. Supposedly they care so much for the wellbeing of their “baby” that they can’t even leave the animal home alone for an hour. If they cared so much, why would they bring a pet to a warehouse? I just can’t wrap my brain around it.
Anyway, I meant for this thread to be about animals going where they shouldn’t but feel free to bitch about home improvement stores if you wish. No reason why we can’t multitask
Me, too. That and for playing Attack of the Giants by strapping paint cans to my feet with the wire handles. That way, if I see any of those little dogs, I can stomp 'em.
Oh, please. I know from first-hand experience that store employees are the absolute worst offenders in this regard. Don’t even try to tell me you never did it.
Totally with you on the dog thing though. Drives me nuts, too.
I haven’t done anything like that since I was about 10. The last time I tried anything like that was in a grocery store. I was hanging on the back and the whole thing flipped over on me. I didn’t get hurt but you can be damn sure I never did it again.
I will admit though that sometimes I want to do it. It looks like fun. After all, a lumber cart isn’t the same thing as a grocery store cart - it should be safer. But then I remember that a stunt like that could get me fired and I restrain myself. But still, the urge is there Besides, I never said I was free from moments of idiocy. I’m sure I have a number of sales people who think I’m a total dimwit.
And, in reality, most of the things my customers do don’t bother me. Shopping can be boring and it’s perfectly natural to try to liven it up a bit. Not everyone gets excited by looking at floor tiles.
I don’t understand the people who think it’s ok to let their kids and pets roam free. At least kids are more likely to respond when you call them. Most dogs do no have the discipline that service dogs have. Of course, some children don’t either.
I work in a small hardware store (rhymes with Pace), and while I don’t mind the dogs so much, I do have a problem with people thinking that it’s cool to let their toddlers run around barefoot by themselves. Hey, it’s a hardware store. Og only knows what kind of sharp crap is in the floor, although we try to keep the place clean. Stupid, stupid people.
While I agree with your sentiment, and also think it would probably be a good idea to have specialized identifying tags on service dogs, don’t assume that because it’s a little dog it’s only a pet. I was a bit surprised while idly channel surfing a while back to see a woman on Judge Joe Brown suing someone because her Pekingnese service dog was killed by the other woman’s dog and the woman had written a bad check for the dog’s vet bills, then refused to pay for another service dog. The plaintiff has epilepsy, and the dog (trained to alert her prior to seizures, or get help for her) was worth thousands of dollars. (Five or six thousand IIRC.)
