Pets should not be allowed in stores for sanitary reasons

I want to bring up the issue of people bringing their dogs into stores, specifically Walgreens and Walmart.

I was in line at Walmart to checkout my groceries when I saw a woman two places ahead of me with a dog in the small blue basket you would put a few groceries in.

I was appalled when I saw this and when I reached the cashier I asked why an animal that is not a sight dog allowed into a food store.

She proceeded to say that these people are stopped by the greeter at the door but the customer basically says they will do what they want.

Bringing a dog into a food store -- which could not only shed hair, but letting them sit in the basket that I put my groceries in -- is unsanitary and wrong in so many ways!

I wouldn't want a dog's rear end touching my food or their hair attaching itself to whatever I had in the basket. This holds true especially if someone is allergic to dog hair.

Shame on Walmart for allowing this!

In regards to Walgreens, I saw two different women bring their small dogs into this pharmacy. Why is this practice allowed?

I did not see anything on the door that signified bringing your pet into the pharmacy for whatever reason. What if the dog defecated or urinated inside the store? Is the owner going to clean that up or is that the responsibility of the pharmacy?

In either event, it should not be allowed, no matter what the customer says. They are wrong!

If you don't want to leave your animal in the car, then leave them home. They do not belong in a grocery store or pharmacy. It's just common sense. Use it!

Gabriella Barone

Bradenton

This story was originally published February 26, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pets should not be allowed in stores for sanitary reasons ."