Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:31:06 -0400
From: J dreadpiratejeff
Subject: Re: Chatham Chatlist #4140
On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 07:54, Chatham Chatlist wrote:
> Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:55:41 -0400
> From: Shannon Wall
> Subject: Companion dogs no longer welcome at Lowes Home Improvement!
>
> I went to Lowes on Saturday to make a return—–as I entered, there was a sign saying “SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY”. When I inquired about this, I was told it “came down from Corporate because someone’s Rottweiler growled at a child, the owner did nothing, and the mother called Corporate and complained.” I have attempted to contact the Corporate office to find out if this alleged incident actually occurred, if so, when and where, and to request a copy of the formal complaint and Lowes’ response to it. Is this ” no companion dogs allowed” policy just for Pittsboro, all of NC or nationwide? As a dog owner who always enjoys visiting Lowes with my pooches, (if the ban is true)
> I will be sorely disappointed by such a hysterical sweeping reaction to one person’s perceived threat. Wonder what would have happened if I’d called Corporate last Christmas when someone’s small (unattended) child spit at me and then threw a lightbulb box at me? COME ON CORPORATE, almost all of us need to go to Lowes from time to time–Don’t put us in a position of leaving the dogs (or the children) at home unattended, or even worse, waiting for us in the parking lot in a hot or cold car.
Unfortunately, I’d imagine that’s probably a true story, and it probably happened somewhere like California, or up north perhaps, with wide reaching implications. That being said, I too will be disappointed, but it’s their store and their liability, so what can you really do? It’s sad, but it only takes one idiot to ruin it for everyone, everywhere. In the overly-litigious society we have become, things like this can and will happen with alarming ease and not one thought given to either common sense or personal responsibility.
However, I’m sure your question about reporting someone’s child is at least somewhat tongue-in-cheek, there have been plenty of reports of dogs (of all breeds) seriously injuring and killing children (thanks almost 100% of the time to stupid owners) and very very few examples of small children going on a rampage and killing a full grown adult.
I can see both sides of the argument, unfortunately, and I have to agree with Lowes on this one, as unpalatable as it really is to be in agreement with a seemingly knee-jerk reaction to one idiot in one store.
Cheers,
Jeff