Actually, I think everyone does get it. No one is suggesting that it should be against the law to have animals in stores. Everyone here is just stating their preference for or against, and those who are against have generally said they just don't shop in stores with animals.

Also, to those who don't like children in their LQS - sometimes the parents don't exactly have a choice in the matter. It probably doesn't usually make sense to get a babysitter just so you can run errands, and unlike a dog or cat, you can't exactly leave a 4 year old home alone. Of course, there is no excuse for letting your kid run rampant through a store, causing damage and annoying others, but that's a parenting issue, not an "all kids should be left home at all times" issue.

I love Swatch! The LA store has one, too, with a super cute name and I can't remember it...

My Walmart store has disinfectant wipes near the carts so you can sanitize the cart.

Yes, it is reasonable to decide what is essential and necessary if for some reason you have to take your children into town. "Have to visit the quilting store" is a first world problem.

Children are walking petri dishes as their immune systems are developing and that is normal. the distribution of viruses and bacteria by children is phenomenal. The argument made earlier that poop on a counter or grocery cart from a child is really not the issue is correct. It is more the combination of snot, poop, and disease that they distribute. Not to mention children are the most common vector for influenza, colds, CMV, and chicken pox. Though I like the idea of asking the store for "used" pricing when some gnarly brat wipes their snotty face all over the flannel while mom is too busy finding that perfect blender.

If your child or pet is ill behaved, keep them home til you decide to teach them manners and respect for others.

If your child or pet is ill, keep them home to minimize illnesses to other people and pets, as a matter of respect for others.

shop owners have every right to allow or not allow pets inside, and we should apppreciate the freedom to make that choice. With less than 10% of the population having a cat allergy and only 20% of those having any range of allergic asthmatic responses, it is not reasonable to assume that they should or would post signage listing the pet is in the store. If we unduly assign the shop owner to list a pet is inside, then we would also be reasonably requiring them to post a list of all potential allergens within. And that makes a reasonable extension for shop owners to post MSDS sheets for all present and saleable chemicals.

I would love to see how public pet phobic folks would handle living internationally. Don't go into the kitchen my friends......My favorite pub in münchen has a pug with free reign of kitchen and eating area. In Cannes there is a tricolor calico at the bakery who sits on the cash register and talks with you. She sleeps on the bags of flour.

I am allergic to cats... The "hair" that most think is the allergen is only part of it. Fur is also skin cells and saliva. When you see a cat rubbing its face all over everything it is "marking" the spots with lots of saliva. I like cats and dogs.. While visiting a good friend (with 4 inside cats) I was re-filling her ice cube trays. Guess what I found? CAT HAIR! Washed the trays out and then looked in freezer... YEP! Cat hair in there too. It doesn't matter if you are a spotless house keeper. That old saying about "the fur flies" is correct. It can't be controlled. I always leave her house feeling like I have a cat stuffed down my throat... I also agree that PETS should be left at home... I hate going to a craft fair only to trip over DOG/CAT strollers. Those little dogs always look so embarrassed to be all dressed up in sequins and glitz..... come on people - THESE ARE PETS....... they would rather be home sleeping on their favorite pillow....

LQS had her pups there daily. If I saw something I liked, I would buy it and wash it asap

Cat and dog hair gets everywhere, I agree. But that also means that people with pets who go into shops (or work there) are leaving hairs, etc., behind as well.

Dogs don't want to stay home all the time. They are travelers by nature. They want to be exposed to social situations that include other animals and lots of people, good smells and new experiences. I'd never dress up a pet, though I used to pull my very old dog in a wagon so he could continue to experience the world. Not in a terrible crowd though, which is where common sense comes into play.

Although, why is it different having to look for animals loose or in strollers when there are children loose or in strollers all over the place as well? Why does it matter who is in it?

LOL bringing dogs to sewing group would be as bad as bring toddlers!

I just realized something. KQ is my local quilt shop, and I don't think I've ever seen a kid in there. Now i'm not in there every week, but it's usually older women and the occasional long-suffering husband. (Mine always goes in to lug the bolts to the table and order the cutting, and he sticks out a bit.)

JA, otoh, is always full of kids.

hugs,
Charlotte

Depends on the child ( and his /her parens).

There even might be a few kids that enjoy shoppong for adult stuff.

My mom made such a point of " do not touch things" when I was in a store!! It took years for me to get to where I felt comfortable picking up something I was interested in and looking it over before deciding if I wanted to buy it or not! :shock:

Depends on the dog. Some are sedate and will just flop down somewhere until it is time to leave. Others are hyper.

Some people adore having pets around. Others don' t. My bouse, my guidelines. Your house/business, your rules/ guidelines.

AMEN, this is exactly my point, it is no ones business but the shop owner, or house owner, and no ones business if you wish to go or not!

I don't know if it would bother me all that much to have either a cat or a dog in the shop, I'm allergic and have 3 cats, but then again as long as I take my allergy pill every day I'm good. I would buy the fabric and take it home, soak it in some water and be done with it, but that's me.

I live in the same area of the country as you are and may have encountered that same shop on a Shop Hop. I smelled the cat just as I walked in the door and it was very disturbing to me. The shop had great fabric and lots of it but I would not shop there as I don't appreciate the cat odor. I am not particularly an animal lover, however, I am greatly disturbed by people who are cruel to them. Still I do not want them in a store and will not shop where there is one. Not a snob just feel free to make the choice.

According to WebMD, 10% of people have pet allergies, and 20-30% of people with allergic asthma have severe reactions to cats. To me, the potential liability as a shop owner would more than offset any "love me, love my pet" point i might want to make.

Charlotte

How is the shop owner responsible for YOUR allergies. That is like someone going in Walmart down the candle isle, or detergent isle and suing walmart becasue you had an allergic reaction. This is as bad as the guy on the news today suing McDonalds, because they didn't give him enough napkins. For one and a half million dollars no less. At the last minute he had to throw in the race card and claim the manager said "you people". If he did, he could of meant you idiot, not race.

As a former shop owner, but cat enjoyer, it makes me crazy when I discover a cat at a quilt shop.
If I go to the grocery store there are no cats inside.
If I go to the department store, there are no cats inside.
If I go to a mattress store there are no cats inside.
Or at a framing shop.
Or a bakery.
Or a hair salon.
Or a school.
WHY??

Because those places are BUSINESSES that serve the PUBLIC! It is bad for the bottom line to alienate a significant part of the customer base over having the owner's "darling" with her all day at the PLACE OF BUSINESS!! Duh! :shock:

Unfortunately too many quilt shops are NOT RUN by BUSINESS owners, but by hobby-ists. And too many quilt shops don't stay around long either. So sad. :(

Jan in VA

This is really interesting for those that are worried about the cat or dog that is in sight. There was much more if any of you all would like to read, I will add the link
Pet dander is present in nearly all homes in the United States -- including those without any animals. This was the key finding of a research study published in the July 2004 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dogs and cats lived in only half of the residences examined in the study, conducted by the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences Institute. Results suggest that people who are sensitive to cat and/or dog allergens are highly likely to be exposed to detectable levels of those allergens in their environment regardless of where they live.

The researchers used data from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing, in which surveyors collected vacuumed dust samples from beds, bedroom and living room floors and living room sofas in 831 housing units in 75 randomly selected locations around the United States.

Dog and cat allergens were detected in 100 percent and 99.9 percent of homes, respectively, even though only 49.1 percent of the homes actually had such a pet.

Interestingly, the researchers found that dog and cat allergen levels were higher among households belonging to demographic groups in which dog or cat ownership was more prevalent, regardless of whether or not the household had a pet. Because dog and cat allergens can be transported on clothing and shoes, the researchers speculated that the community, particularly where dog or cat ownership is high, may be a primary source of these pet allergens. For pet-allergic patients in such communities, allergen avoidance may be difficult.

The vacuum samples revealed that sofas had the highest concentrations of allergens, even in homes without pets, again suggesting that residents and/or visitors brought the allergen material in on their clothing.

Researchers noted that cat dander is a very hardy antigen that stays in the environment for years after a cat is gone. People with severe allergies can reduce their risk by using high-efficiency filters and avoiding plush furniture and carpet.

Other research has shown dog and cat allergens to be prevalent in places like bus seats, park benches, theater seats and waiting rooms in hospitals and allergists' offices. Therefore, "it may be that people who are very allergic to dogs and cats may have to rely on medications as opposed to avoiding exposure," said scientist Samuel Arbes, who worked with Darryl Zeldin on the study.

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIP..._Allergies.php

I used to go to a store where the owner had a huge dog. Everytime I talked in the store, I could smell "dog". I finally got to the point of not shopping there. They went out of business.

Sort of related...I live in wine country and it is almost strange to visit a winery that doesn't have a "office dog" wandering around, even in the tasting room(s). My husband works for a lot of the local wineries and he always likes it when the office dog hangs around while he's doing his work. He takes pictures and texts them to me to show me his "work mate" for the day. There have been multiple "Dogs of the Wine Country" type books published too.

Some of these are multi-million dollar companies. Dogs don't seem to hurt their business one bit. A couple places I actually go to visit my favorite winery dog just as much as I go to taste/buy wine. But I am definitely an animal lover. :)

I sure wouldn't what to buy fabric for store that has any animal in them. I don't want hair all over my cloth

I'm allergic to cats and dogs, but don't mind well behaved pets in a shop, because I take my allergy medicine. But there is NO amount of allergy or asthma medication that will allow me to be exposed to smoke, perfume, or more than the least little bit of dust. Exposure to those can be a matter of life or death. In virtually all of the locations I've been in, smoking is not allowed, but that doesn't stop smokers from standing outside a door, blowing smoke in the face of all potential patrons. I even had one woman with a lit cigarette try to hold the door open for me while I was carrying a tank of oxygen. I couldn't even approach the door close enough to ask her to leave. If any smoke, perfume (including potpourri), or dust is detectable at the door, I cannot enter the store.

Actually, I have seen shop animals at almost all of those places. Locally owned shops of all kinds may keep them because they create a homey, welcoming atmosphere.

Lots of folks prefer to shop in family owned businesses and a shop animal is a good sign of that, too.

That decision doesn't make the business unprofessional or the owner a "hobbyist", or doomed to failure. I'm sure in some regions, evidently yours for one, shoppers are looking for a different experience than those in other areas, like mine. That doesn't make either of us right or wrong. If you choose not to shop in places that have shop pets, then more power to you. But let's not belittle the very successful businesses that cater to a different type of customer.

This is a very interesting thread! I don't mind pets in stores at all. We had a decades old bookstore that had a cat as long as I can remember. It added to the charm. There is also a small jewelry store that I frequent. Most of the time there is only one young lady manning the store. She brings her dogs with her every day for protection. They do stay in the back of the store and don't mingle with the customers. Most of the older farm stores have cats, after all, they do store tons of grain which mice love. I guess my take on this subject is that I can choose to go or not to go in a store for whatever reason. There are some restaurants that I won't go to because they are dirty. Carpet stores kill my eyes. Its my choice.

I love and have cats. I also like kids. But there are some places, I think neither one belongs. Fabrics are like a fur magnet, so probably not a good idea to have cats or dogs in a fabric store. Those with allergies could wind up in a very uncomfortable situation if purchasing fabric with pet dander, and they were unaware. At least the shop owner should post a sign advising patrons that pets are on premises.

Well, to stay on topic ( and not bring up all sorts of spurious lawsuits), i think it can be argued that a person entering Walmart can reasonably expect that candles and other aromatic things are sold there. They can avoid them if they choose. It's also a much larger space in terms of concentration. But one does not normally expect pets in a quilt shop and may not know it until it's way too late. I don't know about legal responsibility for sure, but morally, to have caused such an incident would be very troubling. I am not talking about the "take an allergy pill and i can pet my cat" allergy. I'm talking about folks with severe asthma, and a 5-year-old that you have to check for bluish fingernails. They have to live in the world, not in isolation. And they know what to expect in Walmart or PetsMart, and know what to avoid. They don't have that expectation in a quilt shop. I would never want to be responsible, legally or morally, for that sort of distress or worse. Just because i wanted my pet with me.

JMO,
Charlotte

I am allergic to both cats and dogs, but cats more severely. I would not be able to shop in a store or purchase fabric from any, that had a resident cat. It's too bad for those shop owners who allow their pets to accompany them to work and thus send some of their customers away. People who don't have allergies, don't seem to understand how miserable an allergic reaction can be. I can possibly manage to be in the same house/shop with a cat for maximum of an hour, but by then I'm sneezing and totally clogged up and miserable. It then takes me several hours to get back to normal. If I knew a cat was at a shop, I just wouldn't even go there at all. They'd miss out on any of my business for sure.

There's a quilt store in Austin,Tx that has a resident cat. It lays all over the bolts of fabric. Lots of nice fabrics, but I can't go inside; because I'm very allergic to cats and have asthma. I haven't found an allergy pill that will protect me from cat dander.
Sharon

I'm thinking you meant, the only public/business place.... :)

I LOVE cats and like dogs, but I don't think either belongs in a fabric store, ether the owner's cats/dogs or the clients' (except seeing eye dogs and I doubt most of their owners are doing much fabric buying).

I still say it goes back to the owner's choice if thier pet is there or not, as it is your choice to go or not. But for all of you throwing a fit over a pet in a store, you had better think twice before you buy online again, for anything, as you never will know what has been all over your product. And like I said before, I am not indifferent to those with allergies as I have been an asthmatic for 54 years, so I know what it is like. BUT I am not going to put my problems off on the rights of others!

My ex sis inlaw was, as she told everyone, is deathly allergic to cats. We went to funeral and afterwards were at the home. She was fine until she saw the owner's cat bed, not the cat, an hour later. She immediately developed symptoms. Real symptoms but brought on by just the suggestion there was a cat. Everyone is around a lot pet dander everyday even if they think they are not.

I'd imagine that the businesses you refer to as "family businesses" are probably small businesses, too. I personally love them myself. And I live in an area where the towns within 100 miles of me are all under 60,000 in population (3 of those), most are quite wonderful "charming small towns". I don't know of any (many) that have pets in the store other than quilt stores, oddly enough. And I've shopped in all the kinds I mentioned.

My comment, though it seemed belittling to you -- and I am really sorry for that, truly -- still applies to guidelines that follow any kind of professional business model. It just is contrary to the bottom line to offend a segment of ones prospective customer base, no two ways about that.
Jan in VA

There are two different matters of discussion here:
You are on the topic of rights of the person owning a business to run their business as they want to. Agreed by many of us in the discussion.
I am on the topic of whether it is good business - as in affecting the bottom line of your financial income - to have pets in a store that offend (in one way or another) any prospective customers you might draw to your business. That just does not make "good business sense;" that's a generally accepted business guidelines fact, not just an opinion.
I'm totally agreeable that everyone is entitled to their opinion!

Jan in VA

I'm not allergic and I love cats but I would not want to buy fabric from a store like that. I like seeing cats wandering around at the Vet's office and some auto shops and feed stores have them around the shop but fabric? nope. Wouldn't shop there for fabric (I would buy patterns, notions, and thread there though).

Hmmm, these sources beg to differ with your idea that it is not good business about pets/animals in the workplace. These articles indicate it is a growing trend and good for business as well as employee moral.

http://www.westsoundworkforce.com/em...ly-businesses/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...place/1951957/

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/3...-lower-stress/

I found many more articles but this is just a small sampling.

But a fabric store is different to me. The fabric picks up everything in the air almost. Not to mention that the last thing I want to do is handle something (and we all know that fabric gets a lot of handling) that was stepped on by a cat that may have just stepped out of a litter box. Ew.

I think it wouldn't be unreasonable, if a business of this type wanted cats around to improve morale, to keep them in a dedicated area like an office.

I don't live that far from you.
http://www.downtownfrederick.org/dog-friendly

I couldn't find a quick list of places with shop pets, but a good number of successful, longstanding shops here allow customers to bring their own dogs in with them as you can see from the link above.

People with cat allergies make up less than 10% of the population. Businesses tend toward the 80/20 rule - if less than 20% of a group has a special preference,*putting your money there is a bad bet.

Again, I don't care if anyone refuses to shop someplace that keeps or allows pets, that's your choice. But saying that allowing an animal in the shop is bad for business, is simply false.

Our Ben & Jerry's allows pets by the way. Seems to be working for them.

(We live North of Frederick now, but our town is too small for a friendly list like this. :))

There is no way in he## I would go to any food establishment that had any animal other than service animals in it. Gross. Then again we don't have any pets in the house and I know most do so we're probably more picky about that.

I have heard the 80/20 rule too and my dd, being in the minority of people with life threatening food allergies definitely gets the short end of that stick. But we appreciate the places we can go so much that I would spend more there than bother with places that are not 'allergy friendly'. Not to mention the death thing.

Wow! What a long thread! It has been interesting to read all these points of views, too. I love both cats and dogs but have never had them as indoor pets. I grew up on a farm and still live on one and my parents and DH always insisted pets stay outside. I am fascinated when I happen into a shop that has a dat or dog, and honestly, it mainly happens when I am vacationing. I say, to each his own. I do always wonder about allergy sufferers, tho. One eve this winter I let our Border Collie into the house...that lasted about 10 minutes...he smelled like a dog! Yikes! Put him back in the garage right away. On the other hand, DD has a small indoor dog that does not bother me at all.