I don't have animal allergies, but I am severely allergic to lavender. I have walked into fabric stores and had to leave because of the "nice relaxing" air fresheners. Unfortunately so many products are now 'fresh lavender' scented, I have to be careful, and sniff as I walk in. I can no longer walk in most cleaning product isles, or even the ones near it. DH now does most of the shopping since it has gotten so much worse in recent years.

Why could it not happen again? The only difference, we have drugs now to combat disease, the disease didn't disappear.

Most stores that have animals on site have a sign on the door saying so, and that helps. I would go in the store just to pet the cats. And then wash the fabric the minute I get home.

In my opinion animals of any kind do not belong in a store any other than the pet stores! I will not shop in a store that has any animals in it dog or cat!

I'm allergic to cats, but I have been in antique or book stores with cats. As long as I don't pet them I'm all right. But I don't like the idea of dog or pet hair on my fabric. Also not a fan of dirty kids touching everything either. I guess I'm a fussy old lady....

The granddogs don't live in WI and they don't visit so my fabric is safe here!

We have a cat in our store - we sell farm and lawn equipment. She's our mouse protection. If it wasn't for her I would be terrified all day long. No mice in office area because of her. Now the shop area, with all the open doors is another problem. I was surprised at how many of our farmers stop to pet and talk to "Mama" when they come in.

I haven't read all replies here, but my suggestion is to go shopping there with an un-allergic friend, purchase what you like and have her/him launder it for you. For me, having a cat in a store is much preferred to having germs spread by wandering mice who could also damage the goods as well.

I actually have no problem with this - I have always seen cats in feed stores and places that sell farm stuff. But they are also usually open air-ish and it doesn't cause problems with my allergies. Well, that and I don't exactly frequent such places. LOL

there is a feed store in my town and they always have a cat. doors open too though. When our local quilt store started out, they had a cat outside. People would let it in and they would put it back out. tiny dog doesn't bother me being around fabric, but could bother anyone with pet allergies.

I love animals myself, but I've had a running battle (figuratively speaking) with a local big box food store. The ONLY animals allowed in food stores or restaurants are service animals. AND, IMHO, an animal that has to be carried or placed in the grocery cart is not an assistance animal and does not belong in a food store or restaurant. As for smoking, about ten years ago our state (Florida) had a constitutional amendment approved by the voters that prohibits smoking in any public place, including the campus of the local community college. I am grateful that smoking is not allowed. I have adult onset asthma and the smoke causes severe breathing problems.

Believe me, I am not anti-animal. We had three dogs (just lost the last one about a year and a half ago) and I loved every one of them. However, unless you have safety restraints in a vehicle, in a collision a dog or cat becomes a projectile which can cause injury to them or whoever they're with in the car.

And, I don't want to use a food cart that has been occupied by any animal. JMHO!

Jeanette

I love cats and have 2. But I would object to a LQS or any establishment selling clothes, fabric, food, etc., having a cat or dog on the premises. Several of my friends have allergies and I see how they suffer. Just think this is not an appropriate place to bring your pets.

Now a book store....

Actually, which is worse - where a dog/cat sat ir a baby with a poopie diaper sat?

HERE, THERE IS NO SMOKING ALLOWED IN ANY STORE OR BAR OR RESTARAUNTS.
sorry bout caps.

I do not have an issue with cat allergies, but our DS does, to the extent that he rarely visits because we have a cat. That said, I don't really have an issue with a cat in a quilt shop, perhaps the shop is in an area where mice are present and the cat serves a very real purpose. However, cats can be trained to not go onto tables or any other surfaces where they are not wanted, although we had one cat who would jump onto the kitchen table whenever I had a floral arrangement with baby's breath; for some reason Princess loved baby's breath.

That's a faulty dilemma. :) But it does remind me of one time when I was shopping in a LQS and this woman stood next to me, reeking of McDonald's, touching one fabric after the other. All I could think of was whether or not she'd washed the french fries off her hands.

That, like the baby example, is unpleasant. Cat allergies, OTOH, are often severe.

Hugs,
Charlotte

If I had a quilt shop I'd be very tempted to bring a dog or cat in occasionally, but I probably wouldn't do it because I don't trust the PEOPLE who visit the shop not to be jerks and hurt it, either accidentally or on purpose.

There are many businesses here that have all kinds of "shop" animals (cats, birds, dogs, fish...), and it's a wonderful thing for the community. People can bring well-behaved animals into many of these and other stores as well. Since some of us work all day, it's a blessing to be able to bring our pets along on a pleasant evening -- though ONLY where they are welcome by the business owner. Because these shops all have pet policy signs on the doors it's easy to tell.

I'm sure there are probably people who don't shop in the places that have or allow pets, but nobody seems to miss them enough to change the community's spirit.

There was a local shop that had a cat, he was rather timid and I never saw him on the fabric or tables. Nor did I notice hair on anything I bought there. Granted, I didn't buy a whole lot as she specialized in orientals, and I don't care for them at all.

It's interesting that so many people comment on the animal issue - but what about the heavy smell of residual cigarette smoke, or strong perfume - or my personal favorite, the two together? More than one store (not necessarily quilting) I've been in has people working there who absolutely reek; it gives me an instant headache and unless it's something I can't do without, I'm outta there!

I love cats and dogs... but not pet hair on my fabrics! The cutting table is the absolute worst place for a cat to lie, as it ensures that every length of fabric cut on it will be exposed to cat hair. Someone should tell the shop owner. Its up to her what she wants to do about it, but she still needs to be told it's a problem.

Neither is acceptable.

Or parents that, when their small child has grabbed produce and stuffed it into their mouth, just takes the food and puts it back with the rest? I have seen this happen before, and that kid had a whole lot of snot and dirt on its face. YUCK. I always pre-wash...fabric AND produce!!

I would never bring a pet into a place that sold food, though. Only exception is outdoor cafe's; there are a few around here that put out dog water bowls and encourage customers to bring their dogs into their outdoor eating areas. I think that's perfectly acceptable.

I thought it was sad when I visited a quilt store whose whole theme was cats, but had to evict them in deference to customers. I understand, and they compensated with cat décor. I admired them for making the sacrifice.

on the other side of this 'coin' I was in a shop one time when a customer entered and before she got 5 feet inside the store the owner approached her and told her she could not come in because she wore too much perfume- *that one shocked me way more than finding a cat laying on a shelf!!!* this owner did not have the best reputation in the customer service- friendly area- but she sure carried some wonderful stuff.[/QUOTE]

I guess we all have our allergies or intolerances, I can't go into any store that carries the scented candles or scented anything, or perfumes, so I would have been a very good customer in the store where the owner asked a customer with too much perfume to leave. Cats & dogs in stores are a plus to me.

Having worked in retail and having taken my dog to numerous retail places (not food related!), please keep your grubby, crabby, loud, handsy, bratty 2-legged kids at home! Bring your dog if they're well behaved enough that you'd take them out without worry anyway. Odds are high your dog isn't going to destroy the store and make me spend an hour cleaning up after them plus your dog is attached to you via leash, kids are more often not!
I don't mind shop pets but I'm also not allergic. SO, on the other hand is highly allergic to shedding dogs. She just doesn't pet them or we go somewhere with cats instead! Just my $.02.

We have a store in a neighboring town and they have a big fluffy cat, and I have seen it quite a bit - particularly f it is a store expressing "homey and country atmosphere." And cats are in a lot of quilt pictures - it is just sort of thought of as a combination. Its a shame your hubby is allergic. What if you washed the material right away?

Marysewfun

My husband was looking for a lense (sorry not sure of spelling) for his motorcycle so we went into this bike shop not motorcycle shop to see if they might have what he was looking for which they did not. But they had cats in there and the smell was so bad I had to leave and will not return to that store ever...I don't mind cats but good grief do something about the smell. I had to keep my t-shirt over my nose to keep from gaging and so did another person that needed help!

Now that's just bad housekeeping. There's NO excuse for that!

Well here is a thought, maybe you could still go to the shop and get your fabric, but before they cut it, ask them if they could wipe off the cutting area, due to your husbands allergies. I know that would be alot of ask but maybe they do not realize how it is effecting their store. And is it the owners cat, or an employees cat? Honestly in this day and age, owners are looking to make money not scare patrons away.

The only other solution I could think of was taking the fabric directly to the laundry room and washing it. IF its that I have to have type fabric : ).

Hope things work out so you can still shop there, and keep hubby allegy free too.

I really would avoid any sort of shop that allowed a cat free range,I too am allergic to animal hair, if you love cats then fine-- but not everyone feels the same so keep them at home.

I do NOT care for cats and dogs in a quilt shop. Enough said ...

I would be worried about the cat on the cutting table just because if its tail got in the way!

I wouldn't like it either....and I'm not allergic. I'm just not a pet person and I don't think pets belong in a place of business.

A lot of you still are not getting it.....it is their store and their choice, as it is your choice to go elsewhere as well. This country would be so better off, if every one quit trying to run someone else's life. We all have choices....and like someone else said, when you order on line.....you don't know what they have there by their cutting table!

I think that all dogs, cats, whatever, should not be in any shop unless it is a trained and certified service dog. That takes a lot of training. You may love you animal, but other people may not. I worked in a position that had to investigate animal bites and some of them occurred by an animal who otherwise was friendly and would not have bit anyone. I hope you have good insurance because it may cost you a lot if your animal turns aggressive out of the blue. Keep your animals home. They may be like family to you, but not to someone else.

Yep.

And don't forget, most old buildings have mice. This includes quilt shops and factories. There were also critters on the boat that brought the fabric in, and probably the truck that delivered it to the shop. And then there's the lack of handwashing; who knows if the shop owner/stocker/fabric cutter and factory workers all washed their hands after using the restroom, eating, petting one of those cats you hate, touching the seat of a bench in the park, driving her car, blowing her nose, holding a kid...

Allergies are one thing. Basic hygiene is quite another. Expecting fabric to be sterile because there isn't a cat in your line of sight is pretty darned silly.

And this is why I wouldn't keep a shop pet -- people antagonize and harm animals all the time. To make matters worse, if the animal defends itself you're on the hook for it. You just can't trust people.

Just so you know... There are tons of small service animals. Many of today's service/assistance animals can be carried and placed in grocery cart. There are seizure alert service animals, diabetic sugar sensing service animals, service animals for functioning autistic people, and more and more PTSD service animals for members of our military who have returned from service. Without the services of these animals many of these people would not be able to go out in public and perform mundane tasks we all take for granted (like grocery shopping) Not all service animals assist with a visible disability and not all are dogs.

Don't look for the size of the animal, look to see if it has the service animal vest and patch. All working animals should be wearing it out in public. If not, then yes you are seeing a non service/assistance animal.

OK off my soapbox.

I also meant to say that I am also an asthmatic, so I am not indifferent to those with allergies, but you know your trigger points. Just because some of us are alergic to perfumes, scented candles....and so on, should the rest of the people be denied these pleasures because of our problems. NO, just know your trigger points and avoid, don't put your problems off on other people.

I am with you JulieR, I would be more afraid of someone hurting one of my pets, but it is still the shop owners choice. So far this is still a free country.

And like I said before about ordering on line??? for all you know during the night there have been cock roaches especially in the South, Mice, Rats....who knows what all over your material. Or maybe someone really sick just sneezed all over your order? There is way more to think about if you are going to get up tight over a cat that is in sight! Relax people and enjoy your life, and don't try and run someone else's. Life is so much easier.

I love almost all critters, but have a DH who is allergic to cats. He often goes quilt shopping with me. A sign on the door would be a great help. If you watch Project Runway, the Mood fabric store, has a dog named "Swatch" and the camera often catches a shot of him.

I to like cats and dogs but not in the house been there and done that is amazing how much cleaner my house stays without all that hair and I would never buy fabric in a store with pets as I don't want that on my fabric I helped hang a juried quilt show one time and a beautiful quilt was put back in a box and sent back to the owner because of pet hair on it said they could not have it in their museum because of allergies I do think stores that has pets inside should haved it posted on their door just my thoughts but would only be considerate of other people

There is one in Bath Maine as well. The cat has the run of the store and is free to lay anywhere it wants! I was surprised because alot of people are allergic and may not realize there is a cat on the premises.
That being said, I stopped into a toy store once and there was a cat who had an open sore on its back and was on the checkout counter! What are people thinking?