What’s with all the dogs in Pavilions at 8969 Santa Monica Blvd in Weho? There’s a large sign at the entrance stating that dogs are not allowed in the store. There’s an exception for service animals, but people are bringing in animals that are obviously not service animals. The dog owners show no respect whatsoever to the store’s employees and patrons.
Besides the obvious hygiene issues, dogs and their leashes present a tripping hazard to other patrons. Our eyes are rightfully focused on the store shelves and not on the ground. What happens when someone trips over a leash and falls? Can the victim sue the dog owner? Good luck—they’re not insured for that. The injured patrons have to sue the store’s insurer. When there’s a trip or slip-and-fall incident, the store’s general liability and workers’ compensation rates go up.
Who pays for that? All of us who respect the store and its employees and are emotionally stable enough to leave Fifi at home. In-store accidents are not cheap. Grocers operate on tiny profit margins. They have to pass on those costs in the form of higher prices or go out of business.
The store employees, including security, do nothing about it. They’re afraid of being labeled “the jerk who wouldn’t allow Fluffy, who wouldn’t harm a fly, into the big bad store.” I witnessed a disgusting incident recently in which a man in a wheelchair was asking store patrons to pay for some bandages and other first-aid supplies for him. All the employees ganged up on him, yelling at him to get out of the store. They didn’t hesitate for a second.
West Hollywood was founded on the belief that all people deserve equal respect. Apparently, some of us do not think that aspiration applies to them.
Scott Williams
West Hollywood
You have to bring your dog into every store why, exactly?
I worked at Trader Joe’s when dogs began to.trickle into the store on leashes or in hand. This was many years back. I recall that a “dogs not allowed except seeing -eye dogs “was posted but, we did very little but we did very little about it. We did not want to offend our valued customers. Sadly the owners did not seem understand the signs. As a result there were “accidents” and clean-ips…but it continued. As much as I consider my pet my “kids”, I would not take them in places that were posted NO PETS ALLOWED. Just common courtesy…right???… Read more »
I very much agree with this.. “The dog owners show no respect whatsoever to the store’s employees and patrons.” That is right, some of the most arrogant people I’ve ever run into in public are dog owners… They just don’t give AF. And yes, I think the store is on the hook for lawsuits and liability issues more than the dog owners themselves. Imagine trying to defend a lawsuit after a customer falls down or trips from a chesty customer strutting insde with their dog. The store literlly ignores their own policies and willingly allows potential hazards to happen. That… Read more »
Well said.
Thank you for this article. The entitlement of these people is off the charts. Legally store management can ask not only if it’s a service animal, but the follow up question; “WHAT TASK IS IT TRAINED TO PERFORM?”. Sadly, I never see this question asked. Along the lines of “the customer is always right” stores would rather avoid confrontation than risk losing profit from entitled customers. I work in one of the aforementioned establishments and the other day a dog jumped up on my leg. When I gently reminded its owner that only service animals are allowed, of course she… Read more »
YES.
It shouldn’t matter whether bringing pets into stores is legal or not.The business owner gets to write the rules for what happens in their establishment. There is a sign at the entrance that says “No Pets Allowed.” To walk past it with a “that doesn’t apply to me” attitude is flat out disrespectful to the owner and employees. That is not the embodiment of Weho values. That behavior is more in line with Donald Trump and MAGA values.
It’s a State of California ADA law. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
Thank you for this, Scott. I have had a number of encounters with people with dogs at Pavilions and other places in WeHo and I’m tempted to tell the stories, but I realize most people here wouldn’t bother to read them. But I’ve seen dogs pee in stores, and I’ve seen poop that a dog left behind. A woman set her dog on the stack of ears of corn at Pavilions while she chose the ones she wanted to purchase. Managers at both Pavilions and Trader Joe’s have told me they hate that people bring their dogs into the store… Read more »
100%
re: Mikie Friedman — your entire paragraph encapsulates the dog-nutter mindset, but, “I like dogs more than I like most people” is the cornerstone of the problem
I have “a dog nutter” mindset. That is a new title for me and I will accept it…although I think that self entitlement is more of the cornerstone of the problem than my love of animals. Another title I have is “scooter fighter.” What I don’t like is that people feel entitled to ride their rental scooters (and now also e-bikes) on the sidewalk illegally, and also to abandon them wherever they want, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians. That’s pretty self entitled too! Until I got sick, I spent my energy railing against that, just like you’re railing against… Read more »
OH…Mikie…don’t get me started….
People bring their dogs because they know they can get away with it. just like most laws and rules these days, they aren’t enforced. People don’t give a crap. Animals are not permitted in places where food is handled or served for a reason. Just like handicap parking decals, real service animals should wear a vest with a pouch and inside that pouch should be a service animal permit. This would eliminate people saying their dog is a service animal when it isn’t. Emotional support dogs are not service animals. I like dogs, but I’m sick and tired of seeing… Read more »
This battle was lost years ago. There is no legal requirement to show proof that a dog is a certified service animal. All people have to say, if they are ever asked, is that their dog is a service dog. That’s it, no proof required and the Pavilions can’t ask for any.
That’s right, and people need to push to change the law. There should be some identification for real service animals and when asked, the owner needs to present such identification.
You’re not wrong.
I’ve found that many believe rules and laws don’t apply to them including this issue, stopping at stop signs, picking up dog poop, unuttered dogs being allowed inside a leash-free area of a dog park, loud noise after 10pm in residential areas etc.
Yep, it’s arrogance and inconsideration.
That’s not the title I would have chosen for the article, because it blames the victims. The dog owners are the bad guys in this article. The store owner shouldn’t have to “enforce” the policy. The sign outside should be enough. Business owners have the right to establish the boundaries of acceptable behavior within their facility (as long as they are legal). No one has the right to say the rules don’t apply to them.
This one is a toughie for me. While I understand that it’s illegal, and shows self entitlement, on the days that I’m feeling well enough to do my own grocery shopping, I love looking at all the well cared for dogs with their owners. Truth be told, I like dogs more than I like most people, and I’ve never actually seen one being aggressive…(the dogs that is!) I’ve also never seen any relieving themselves…. although I’m sure it probably happens. So please, all you self entitled dog owners who bring your pride and joy into pavilions, please get them service… Read more »