Musings: Fido's riding shotgun again
Trained service dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed to ride in shopping carts. Credit: Howard Simmons
I frequently shop at a chain supermarket in West Islip. Several times, I have spoken with management about the store’s repeated failure to enforce the federal Americans with Disabilities Act — not to mention New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets regulations — both prohibiting dogs in food stores except trained service dogs.
Trained service dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed to ride in shopping carts.
My usual complaint to management is when customers have their dogs in carts. I find this disgusting, and it is unsafe for people who place food and/or babies in these carts.
The managers usually reply that they do not want to confront customers. I love animals, but they are not people and do not belong in grocery carts.
After receiving no response to a recent email sent to four corporate executives, I have to ask: Does anyone enforce these rules anymore?
— Jim Riche, Babylon
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