SFist: Dogs at Cafes, Y/N?

Sploondoothioz

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:28:57 -0800

Take your small dogs and your snooty, bourgeois, fur coat and no knickers attitude (people with real money don't waste it on showy accessories) and move the hell out of SF. Maybe then the rents will come down and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Dogs do not belong in restaurants, and the laws the law whether you're rich or poor. Maybe your parents let you get away with everything but some of us won't. Deal!

manys

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:18:42 -0800

Great logic largo, allergic to one animal equals allergic to all animals (or just the ones you need to make a point). Here's a method to use in the future: there's this fancy thing called "DNA" that determines how different animals are to each other. You can tell animals are different from each other by their DNA, yes, but also that they have different fuckin' names. QED. HTH. HAND. bluecanary: That you brook the possibility of spending "too much" time with people says a lot. By all means, enjoy your woogums and be sure to teach it to call 911 in case you fall down or choke on a ham sandwich or something. my many years of frequently coffee shops I have never seen a smoker give even the slightest concern about lighting up at a crowded sidewalk cafe? Srsly, it's outside. If this kind of thing truly bugs you, you should move to Pleasanton or Palo Alto or somewhere else where they care just enough to pass laws against smoking in public spaces.

MisterPlow

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:20:23 -0800

I don't like the idea of dogs in restaurants, largo, but if there *were* a restaurant where dogs made the burritos, I would totally eat there!

largo01

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:05:09 -0800

Ok look, I'm allergic to dogs (and cats) too, but honestly? Explain to me please how a dog hair is going to end up in your food. It isn't like the dog is preparing your burrito or sitting on the tortillas in the kitchen. It is a good thing health regulations recognize separation between kitchen and eating area. And if you are allergic to dog you are also probably allergic to rat. Guess how many rat feces end up in restaurant food. oh the horror. I bet you didn't know it. There are also humans who are allergic to other humans. I am not joking.

Leanne

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:50:06 -0800

Best thread in a long time. Good job, guys.

stanimal

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:25:16 -0800

Having two dogs, I agree that dogs do not belong in a food establishment. However, I'm allergic to screaming children... can we banish them outside as well?

withak

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:37:11 -0800

I also demand that everyone go out of their way to cater to my bizarre medical problems.

hillarys_quivering_lip

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:37:01 -0800

mikebee : lettuce discuss your feelings further. how do you feel about peanuts?

mikebee

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:48:50 -0800

hey newsflash you assholes - MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO DOGS. SO ALLERGIC THAT A STRAY DOG HAIR OR *EVEN SKIN FLAKE* IN THEIR FOOD OR DRINK WILL GIVE THEM A REACTION THAT PUTS THEM IN THE HOSPITAL. that is but one very, very good reason to ban animals from places that serve food and beverages. your fucking "best friend" does NOT have the right, and until he/she takes a fucking shower every morning like the rest of us, I would rather not have them shedding all over the floor - or God Forbid the fucking countertop. The law is actually there for a good reason. those of you who are seriously saying things like 'i would have thrown my coffee at this guy' are fucked up and the reason why SF sucks. Fuck you.

fizzandpop

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:37:18 -0800

@Manys I used the word fag in regard to tobacco, not sexuality.

fizzandpop

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:37:18 -0800

@Manys I used the word fag in regard to tobacco, not sexuality.

martooni

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:00:06 -0800

coffee guy is so mean! why everyone here bad to dogs??? my pookums and me, we go all places together, store, cafe, allergy docteur, BART subway!! all places, people so nice to me and pookums!!! and when not, we tell to go away, awful man womans!21!1 only place we not go, church, since pere jacques say we no longer can go to mass. Why!!>>?? just small pookums package and peepee on rug in sacristry, so bad??? no, pere says, out, smelly beast (only small bad smell she have!! cannot help!!!), and you too, bad dog!! san francisco, i know you understand, you with saint francis of assisi in your heart http://www.shrinesf.org/homepage.htm . . . . THE DOG saitn!!!! please., more puppies ion all cafes!! we must!@! for pookums (here is picture of darling gfirl: http://www.richiesacks.com/Smelly%20Dog.jpg) all my heart!! to you sfist!!

bluecanary

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:55:39 -0800

megang: or it's possible I've spent way too much time with people, thus my attitude.

Cindy

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:35:45 -0800

No to any dogs in eating establishments or store of any kind, unless it's a pet store. Unless of course the small dogs don't mind my Akita staring at them, contemplating the source of their next "snack".

JimBobJoe

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:14:03 -0800

bluecanary: we then must be existing in parallel universes.

andyc

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:11:57 -0800

do people really steal dogs that are tied up outside? wouldn't the dog freak out in that kind of situation? or did he just not love you that much

megang

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:59:36 -0800

bluecanary, I think you are spending way too much time with your dogs. It's time to stop hating people and get out of the kennel.

bluecanary

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:08:44 -0800

"Wy is it that dogs get more love and attention than the kids I teach?" Hmm, let me think. Dogs don't grow up into teenagers who are embarrassed to be seen with their "dorky" parents in public. Dogs don't constantly needle you for money or to borrow the car. Dogs don't tell you your favorite skirt makes you look fat. Schools rarely call someone to tell them their dog is skipping class... Should I go on? JimBobJoe: maybe because in my many years of frequently coffee shops I have never seen a smoker give even the slightest concern about lighting up at a crowded sidewalk cafe?

JimBobJoe

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:27 -0800

Bluecanary, you zealot, why do you doubt my sincere tales of polite smokers?

iris

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:29:47 -0800

To continue flogging the dead horse, I'd like to second the folks who bring up the allergy issues. And health issues. And why is it that dogs get more love and attention than the kids I teach?

manys

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:58:06 -0800

I'd be happy to eat with my dog outside, unfortunately, every smelly smoker in SF seems to think I would love to eat with eau d'inconsideration wafting over my food. The ironing is delicious. Amber is a gay bar? I always thought it was just a pretty mixed smoker's bar. Self-segregation being as popular as it is in SF I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I would become a minority.

Belgand

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:46:32 -0800

Greg and icbalaam already said everything I was going to say. I love dogs and would like to find an apartment that lets me actually have one one of these days (for a city with so many dogs you wouldn't think it would be so impossible), but I definitely think that you should keep them outside. As with anything else if someone is able to ask you nicely to take it outside... whatever "it" might be you should probably be courteous enough to apologize for bothering them and do so.

the_absentee

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:07:28 -0800

I love dogs- at least, the ones over 8 pounds. And even if I did like rat dogs in purses, dogs are dogs are dogs and they don't belong in restaurants, or even the dirtiest of coffee shops, whether they are in your $700 purse or on a leash. I would feel uncomfortable bringing my dog in any food establishment.

cedichou

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:58:42 -0800

For places to go with pooch, don't forget SFi'st's own "whine and dine" posts! http://sfist.com/tags/sfistsstan

christineb

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:40:19 -0800

Dogs should be tied up outside. There are health laws for a reason, and I don't think it's fair to jeopardize the cleanliness of a restaurant, cafe, whatever just because you can't leave the dog outside for a few minutes.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:07:53 -0800

"ask your table neighbors if it's ok for you to smoke at an outside table" the day this happens, I will eat my own shoe.

JimBobJoe

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:54:05 -0800

Dogs in restaurants and coffee shops are annoying, as are children. I will not frequent places where animals are allowed inside; clearly the owners are not concerned with food safety laws which prohibit non-service dogs inside of eating establishments. As for people who bring their dogs into a place where this is not regularly condoned, they are being presumptuous and deserve the chance at being ridiculed for it. Be kind to people you don't know; if you're a smoker, ask your table neighbors if it's ok for you to smoke at an outside table. If you own a dog, leave it outside. If you own children, hell, leave them outside too.

sfbs

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:41:09 -0800

I say the test should be that if it licks in own backside, it should not be allowed in restaurants/coffeeshops/grocery stores. While this unfortunately eliminates most, if not all dogs (which are dogs, not people), it would also exclude quite a few 2-legged residents of SF, possibly said "foul man-pile".

largo01

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:39:35 -0800

ummm. don't we have bigger things to worry about than dogs in restaurants or supermarkets? If this is really ruining your quality of life--excluding circumstances in which you are actually bitten or harassed by a dog in such an establishment--then you have it way too good. Also, whether it is illegal or not, I don't know--I suspect it isn't, or if it is a law, it is not enforced. Nonetheless, establishment owners do have reasonable reasons to keep out animals. I'm thinking of possible accident/personal injury liability. But if customers are disturbed by dogs... sorry, but I don't think they should get the last say. I'm disturbed by your screaming, food throwing children, but for some reason you are allowed to bring them with you into restaurants over my objections. ;-P anyways. lighten up, non dog-friendly people.

turtle_276

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:38:33 -0800

Intersting usage of that ridiculous commercial. Dressing dogs in human clothes (pretending they can sing, attend summer camp, etc.) and bringing them into human restaurants are both symptoms of the same prevalent delusion.

LisaLives

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:38:14 -0800

They both sound like a couple of enraged hot-heads and I hope never bump into either of them in a coffee line. But if I had to get all Judge Judy I'd side with the man. He's right. Dogs aren't allowed in restaurants. If it's tolerated by the owners and locals, great. But if someone complains about it you know you're breaking the rules so you're busted and you need to just go outside and tie up Fluffy for a minute while you get your coffee. But I agree with all the other posters who pointed out how depressing the behavior of both people is. Can't we show a little civility towards one another? I almost stopped reading her blog post near the beginning when she just goes off dissing the guy's appearance. Ugly behavior all around.

antfaber

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:35:04 -0800

This is earthquake country. One should always keep one's strategic protein reserve close by.

fizzandpop

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:31:03 -0800

And don't go on about the law. Most of you are breaking about 20 decency laws every time you leave the house with those ridiculous pants you bought last week at Villains.

fizzandpop

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:29:29 -0800

It's dead simple, dogs are like ciggies. If you own a beverage establishment and you want to allow dogs in, then so be it. If you don't like dogs, don't go there. I've seen numpties complaining about the smoke and the dogs in Amber. It's a dog and fag bar, go somewhere else Samantha. I say ban kids from cafes, they're the little bastards spreading shit around the place. Snotty little c**ts. Oh, and leave your piercing voices at home when you next visit an eating establishment. If I have to listen to one more scratchy-voiced female doing her very best Paris impersonation, I'll roll up my copy of Penthouse Forum and poke it up your arse!

vhold

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:18:04 -0800

It seems pretty much inevitable that any time any business tries to be "cool" and turn a blind eye towards some basic rules that things will end up being ruined and you'll get tougher rules than before people started to bend them. The most common scenario is that people start taking the privilege for granted and things get out of hand. On the dog issue, I see dogs in supermarkets as being the straw that will break the camel's back. I mean, seriously, come on, that's so fundamentally wrong. I've been slowly seeing people pull this more and more.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:14:55 -0800

jcbalaam, he may have been telling the truth. I've been in the TJs in North Beach and seen dogs in there on multiple occasions, with nary a complaint from anyone, TJ security guard (never seen one of those) or otherwise. I'd be happy to eat with my dog outside, unfortunately, every smelly smoker in SF seems to think I would love to eat with eau d'inconsideration wafting over my food. If I'm eating, I just leave dogs at home. It's more convenient anyway. They don't NEED to go everywhere with you.

stanthecaddy

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:12:00 -0800

I put dogs and children in the same category, as long the owner has control of them - do as you please.

RinconHillSF

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:06:00 -0800

I love dogs ... but they probably shouldn't be brought into eating establishments. While the possibility of shedding dog hair floating into my food probably wouldn't stop me from eating it - I can understand some folks losing their appetites. Others have their allergic reactions ... poor souls. My worst experience with a dog in an eating establishment in San Francisco? A lovely german shepherd was chilling, lying down near my table ... and he let a face melting fart loose. Granted, humans can do that too ... but holy cow did it stink .. for awhile. Anyway ... yeah, leave the dog outside. I've been recruited a time or two to watch a dog for a few minutes while the stranger/owner ran into a restaurant to get their carry out food. Hopefully that's worth a good karma point or two. :)

BeejW

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:00:23 -0800

My bf goes *insane* when that commercial comes on. I have to be right on top of that mute button. My wife hates this commercial as well. And it's not like she hates dogs. She just finds the voice of the puppy irritating. Pretty much if they could just find a puppy with a better singing voice she'd be happy. There were probably, like, 100 puppies who could sing really well and what did they do? They went with the "cute" one. Show biz. Whatchagonnado?

Compur

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:58:21 -0800

Greg, I totally agree. I'm sick of people who can't resolve differences like grown ups. I see way too many scuffles around this city. I think sometimes people just go out because they WANT to start a fight. You catch lots more flies with honey in this world. "Miss, I'm sorry, but could you please not bring your dog into the coffee shop, I'm allergic and this is my favorite cafe."

icbalaam

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:52:42 -0800

It's one thing to take your dog somewhere that has tables out on the sidewalk, it's completely another thing to take your dog inside an establishment that serves food and/or drink. Like other dog owners, I'll sit outside a restaurant like Squat and Gobble on 16th, Cafe Flore, even Bagdad Cafe. I would never dream of taking my dog into the restaurants though. And I don't want other people's dogs in there either. Service dogs of course I have no problem with being in restaurants or stores, even though getting certification for a service dog is pretty lax here in SF. Tangentially, I was just shopping at Trader Joe's in SoMa and some guy came into the store walking his poodle-mix. The security guard was walked up to him and told him he had to leave the dog outside and he seemed really taken aback saying he has "never had to [do it] before." Yeah right.

sissa

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:49:24 -0800

My bf goes *insane* when that commercial comes on. I have to be right on top of that mute button.

hillarys_quivering_lip

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:42:30 -0800

Might be lobsters on some of you Mobsters.... dogs - OUTSIDE!

Brock Keeling

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:30:28 -0800

"oh, there ma be bugs on some of you mugs..." welcome to the earworm that is slowly destroying me.

Plug1

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:29:10 -0800

arrgghhhhhhh: Plug2 will not stop singing that "aint no bugs on me" jingle. its driving me bonkers.

Akit

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:27:47 -0800

I'd throw the coffee.

Greg

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:27:16 -0800

I wonder if in the 21st century it's possible for people living in a US urban area to resolve these little disputes without resorting to bellicose bitching and whining, and all sorts of childish behavior. It's a fucking dog, not a pipe bomb or a gang member with a gun, please people, learn to talk to each other, not yell at each other. Other cities seem to deal with this stuff and it doesn't become a screaming bitchfest of self entitled people in smugland.

turtle_276

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:25:14 -0800

Dogs and children...people should just leave their toys at home.

Generic

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:24:16 -0800

The breed matters.

KWillets

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:19:02 -0800

I prefer croissants.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:18:41 -0800

People who don't control their dogs (e.g., OrangeDrink's encounter with the yappy dog) should be exterminated. I'm not reasonable at all re this. They make all dog owners look bad.

mushmouth

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:17:15 -0800

Keep in mind I have a Chihuahua living at my house (according to the city, I'm responsible for it) The problem is that A) there are health implications (or else there wouldn't be a law) and B) lots of people are truly scared of dogs big or small for whatever reason. It's not that big a deal to either tether the critter outside, or go to the cafe with another to watch the dog while one gets their morning coffee. What really gets me though are the far too righteous dog owners (many of which are actually my friends) who leave their (often times gigantic) beasts UN-tethered outside the coffee shop. They just go over and steal my dogs toys, get right up into his (mildly insecure because he is currently tethered and/or 1/10th the size) ass. But "he is nice" and "that's the first time he has bitten anything". yeah right!

OrangeDrink

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:11:22 -0800

You've read my comments before, you know I'm a reasonable man. Truly, though, a dog inside in someone's arms does me no harm, so congrats. But I've had a lap dog yap at me from across an indoors coffee table. That made even my reasonable mind turn towards calculating puppicide.

Ylime

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:10:04 -0800

Animals belong outside, especially at restaurants. I agree with the cranky old man. Other than her attitude of entitlement, nothing makes kaili so special that she needs this dog with her while getting her coffee.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:06:33 -0800

Well, I don't really consider myself my dogs' owner, more like the other way around, so I don't have to worry about ethical implications. If I owned them, they'd be picking up MY poop.

Brock Keeling

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:05:51 -0800

well. that sounds reasonable.

OrangeDrink

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:03:56 -0800

If it barks, kill it.

KatyG

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:03:42 -0800

I'll up the ante and say that it is unethical to own a pet of any kind, nevermind subject the poor beast to holier-than-thou types. Nyah.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:03:33 -0800

Oh, resting on her shoulder. Maybe the dog's face was eye level with the crotchety old man's face. It wouldn't bother me, because I love all god's four legged creatures (the two legged kind, meh, not so much), but I can see how it would freak some people out. I don't stand in line with mine. I tether them outside, then rush in, grab my coffee (craning my neck the entire time watching out for dog thieves), then rush back out to sit outside with them. I can't deal with cranky people before I've had coffee.

Brock Keeling

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:00:05 -0800

reportedly on her shoulder. i added it above. thanks, bc.

bluecanary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:57:09 -0800

How big was the dog? Teeny purse dog, IN a purse? The guy was out of line. 20 pound dog, held in arms? Eh, some people get pissy about dogs in public places. Disgusting, rude, freakish people, that is. Some people just get off on bitching. I saw people eating with dogs in restaurants frequently in France. I didn't hear of anyone dying because of it. People need to lighten up and mind their own business.