Over at CHS...

On Monday, we set off once again on our coffee run, but this time we were greeted by a sign on the door featuring a dejected looking dog with a note from the Ladro staff politely informing us unless Trixie was a service dog, she was no longer welcome. Desperately in need of caffeine, I considered my options.... Then I remembered seeing the dog of the month picture outside the not-a-Starbucks down the street, and set off to give my money to "the man." The people there made the usual fuss over her, one of the workers suggested she should be dog of the month, the barista complimented me on my vintage Blues For Allah T-shirt, the coffee was hot and good, and the price was several dollars less than at Ladro. I don't know why Cafe Ladro decided to ban dogs. Perhaps someone was bit, or more likely, they made a business decision to pander to Seattle's noisy dog-hating mob. I understand how bringing in a dog for an extended period of time could cause problems. Some people are allergic, some dogs have accidents, and some dogs aren't very friendly. But I can't bring my dog in for a couple minutes for a to-go order? Really?

If I may speak for the dog-hating mob (which I'm accused of leading, although I live with a small dog, a small dog that my boyfriend takes in bars and cafes): it's difficult for an establishment to selectively exclude only ill-behaved dogs as it's impossible to know which dogs are ill-behaved until it's too late—that is, it's impossible to know if a dog is a bad dog until after it's been allowed in the drinking/coffee/lapdance establishment and begins misbehaving. And when someone walks into a cafe or a bar with a dog, it's impossible for the workers to know if you're just popping in and out or if you're preparing to settle in for an extended period of time. And it's impossible for a cafe owner to know if your dog has accidents until after it has an accident.

But this is a pretty safe bet: if a cafe—or bar or restaurant—that previously allowed dogs suddenly changes its policy, it's most likely because they've recently had some poorly behaved dogs in the place. Your dog may be a well-behaved, in-and-out, never-once-had-an-accident angel of a dog, but odds are good that someone else's dog recently shat the floor, bit a kid, or shedded the day away in that cafe.

Which means the noisy dog-hating mob didn't fuck you and your darlin' dog out of that cafe, CHS, but inconsiderate dog owners who brought their not-very-friendly, accident-prone dogs to that cafe. Blame them.