[Gemme]

I love pets, but they shed. If they come into my lobby and they scratch and lay around or are petted by some folks and shed and then an allergic child comes in and gets their hair on his or her hand and then injests it or breathes it in, then that could potentially be a very bad situation. People don't just go around slapping a 'no pet' sign on a door because they want to (most of the time). It's usually a general public safety and/or health concern.

I believe that pets should be allowed in some places and not in some places. Only seeing eye dogs are allowed in my post office. I'm assuming it's the same with other government buildings. If your pet can wait for you at the post office, then they can wait at the store too. Or at home. If a pet is so traumatized with abandonment issues that they can't be left alone when you run a few errands, you have bigger fish to fry than whether someone else approves or disapproves of your pet being with you. You need a crate and the Dog Whisperer.

I have always worked with the public and very often, especially in this state which is very pet friendly, the pets have better manners than the children. Personally, I'm fine with pets being just about anywhere, but I know a lot of people who are either afraid of dogs, allergic to cats or dogs or both, and there are always going to be safety and health concerns when mixing species.

It doesn't hurt anyone to think of someone other than themselves in the big picture. You get to go home to your pet and get all the loving you want, but if something happens because of your pet and because you couldn't leave them at home for half an hour... *shrug*

As for scents, I am not scent-sensitive but I know some who are and coming into contact with an unfriendly scent can make them absolutely miserable. Going into known situations (a friend's house with pets or your workplace where Mary will invariably spritz all day long), there are usually preparations that can be made. As some have mentioned...Febreeze, vacuuming the softa and floor, taking Benedryl, etc...but it's those unforeseen moments that seem to cause the most discomfort.

If someone I spend more than a mere blink of time with mentions that I'm wearing too much fragrance, I have no problems with putting on less in the future. If it's someone I am unlikely to see again, I will try to put some physical space between them and myself and help them to feel as comfortable as possible.