Ask DB: Should Restaurants Allow Dogs & Ban Kids?
Welcome to DB’s Down in the DM, our weekly feature, where you, humble listeners and readers, get to ask 107.7 The Bounce’s advice guru your difficult questions. Today’s question is Anonymous but is a Frustrated Pet Owner:
Yo DB, Lately I’ve been going to restaurants that have signs in the window banning dogs. I’m sure you’ve seen the same signs that say service dogs are okay, but pets aren’t. I think the restaurants are discriminating. My pet dog is well behaved. I think restaurants should be less concerned about well-behaved pets and more concerned about out of control toddlers. Every time I go to a restaurant I see toddlers throwing food and temper tantrums. They are also running around and being loud. I think restaurants should ban those kids instead of well behaved dogs. I think my dog and other well-behaved pets are being discriminated against. What do you think? Should well behaved pet dogs be allowed in restaurants? Should restaurants ban rowdy kids? Is there a double standard here?
Now as a dog owner I understand never wanting to leave your furry family member. I didn’t grow up with dogs like others have. My grandmother had a Chihuahua that passed away when I was too young to remember. Then when I was in middle school we had a dog who was housed outside named Queenie. When we moved she was rehomed for a better life. So since then my only experience with dogs was with friends. My best friend had a dog by name of Phydo (Pronounced Fido). He was the coolest dog and during my improv comedy days he was a great doggie actor that appeared in our sketch comedy videos. (RIP Phydo). My dog experiences changed when I met my wife. The first thing she told me is “I have a dog and if he doesn’t like you then I don’t like you.” So already it added an interesting dynamic. He is a yellow lab named Brady with all the personality in the world. He doesn’t like spending time with other dogs, he wants attention when he wants it not when you want to give it to him, the most shrill bark, and attitude for days. We spent alot of time together during COVID and he got to the point where he was sick of me and ready for me to go back to work. Now with all that being said your life changes when you care for a dog especially one like Brady. No more staying out too late or out forever. When we travel it’s dog friendly places. Ashville blew our minds with restaurants that were open to pets and even had pet menus. The options are there but to the overall question: Sometimes we can’t have what we would like. A business is allowed to dictate the rules of their establishment and shouldn’t be forced to do what we want. I love my dog but not everyone is comfortable or not to mention can survive around them. Between fear and allergies it gets to murky in that situation. It’s just how it is. Now if a place is open to them then expect my family to be there!
– DB’s Down in the DM is a weekly segment on Monday’s on The Bounce Morning Rollout with Minda and DB on 107.7 The Bounce. Ask your questions by texting the studio line at 910-323-5477 anytime, and you might be featured. (Make sure to let us know in your text that you’re asking for advice. You’d be surprised by some of the weird questions we get randomly.)
