I'm fuming. This afternoon I walked into town. I had to buy some specific batteries. I went into dog free shops. I walked home avoiding all the places where dogs were running about without any form of restraint from their owners. Then I encountered a couple getting out of a car with a large dog which was straining on its lead. They seemed to be struggling to keep it under control. The dog was on the far side of the pavement and the lead was taut and blocking the path. I stopped and waited patiently for them to get the dog under control so that I could pass without getting dog hair on me. The woman looked at me askance. I explained politely, " I don't want your dog to come near me. I'm allergic to dogs ". She sneered at me and said, " Well you shouldn't be walking the streets then ". I'm virtually housebound already due to the prevalence of dogs and their irresponsible owners. Plus the fact that so many shops, cafes etc are " dog friendly " ie allergy unfriendly. I so rarely venture out.
Please someone share my indignation. I need to know I'm not alone.
Grrrrrrrrrrr 👿👿👿👿👿
Written by
Omeba
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Sorry to hear that. I have four dogs and keep them under control. A lot of bad owners giving responsible ones like me a bad name. Luckily I'm not allergic to dogs but I am to cats. When i changed to Fostair it really helped with that allergy . Wonder if that might help you. L
Thanks for replying. I agree it's the owners. Some are so hostile. Where I live dogs are allowed in cafes, shops etc. It means there are very few places I can go.
Fostair is a preventative inhaler taken twice a day and can be very effective. You would need to consult your asthma nurse. I was terrible with my friends cat but after Fostair no problems. Worth looking into. L
Although I take fostair for asthma it doesn't switch off an allergic reaction. Fostair is also prescription only so doctor would need to prescribe it.
Antihistamines can help, but like you I try to avoid allergens. That woman was extremely rude and showed her ignorance.
I adore dogs but like you have an allergy. Some people with dogs don't understand at all. Keep on going out and enjoying your life - safely - as much as you can.
I think it just proves that one size doesn't fit all. We're all different and what might work for one person doesn't help another. I find Ventolin totally ineffectual, but I know it's something others find beneficial.
I hear you! You are not alone. My world is getting smaller and smaller due to people seeming to value their animals more than other human beings. I have acute allergies to cats and dogs. I am continually astounded by the ignorance and selfishness of other people .
So sorry you experienced that, I have had similar experiences too.........
It helps to know I'm not on my own, but I'm sad that your world is shrinking in the way mine is.
Some dog owners are fine and immediately restrain their pet, but others are so aggressive and uncooperative. It doesn't help that many dogs are completely untrained.
Whoops sorry I pressed send too early ! I was going to say I wouldn't have liked to have been in that situation of my path being blocked by a big dog and incompetent owner
I can imagine she was just very frustrated by not being able to control the dog but there is no excuse for rudeness
I hope you can have a dog free outing today and only encounter nice people
Hi I'm also a dog owner but my dog was insisted by the doctor to help me get out and get some exercise as I have spinal damage and he told me to get a small dog to help me control better I'm used to collies so my little dog is full of energy but when on her lead even though she is friendly to a fault I watch other people and tell my dog "no that dog/person might not want to play" and I shorten her lead to the point of she will have to walk on two paws and trip me up than get to another person /dog and I understand being allergic as I'm the same with horses (I've been told cover up mouth and nose and get out of the clothes I am wearing if possible of the hair and take a puff of my asthma inhaler just in case but I also take a shower just to be safe) but my point about the dog is why get a dog that they clearly can't handle and have a go at you I would have either waited for you to pass or walked past extra quickly so you wouldn't have to suffer I've even trained my dog to help me with some health issues including asthma so I'm not allowed to show examples or she puts me to lay down lol but again it's rude and they should have got a dog thay could handle.
Thanks for your message. Your dog is obviously a necessary life line for you. But you fall into the category of responsible, sensitive dog owners. I wish there were more people like you.
I try to avoid any dander getting on my clothes. If it does then I strip outside the house and my partner goes through a variety of processes before it's washed. Like you, I also shower to eliminate any possible "contamination ".
Yes, the people yesterday could have done so many things instead of the taunting and making me feel the way I did. I had moved to one side to allow them to pass and I was polite. In any case, I couldn't proceed because the lead was taut across the pavement.
I hope your dog continues to provide you with the support you need. I also hope you enjoy being with her. 🙂
Thank you for your reply and I'm 50/50 on the pet friendly places my reasons for this is yes I would love to bring my dog into shops and cafes with me in the bad weather but I also think it should be a sensible way so that if there are people who are allergic or frightened of these animals then it will not be an issue for them or the dog lovers at the moment I leave my dog at home because where I am even though it's classed dog friendly only working dogs are allowed in shops ect and my dog isn't a registered worker dog but in the hotter weather I have no problem sitting outside with her or even going to a dog park to have a coffee. I'm sorry that people make you feel like this trust me I have a friend who is fully housebound and I do feel for people in this situation it's not nice but like I say to my friend for every day that you can manage it is a success and every idiot you encounter who is nasty to you is still a success but in a different way those idiots are showing you just how strong you are and how much better you are to them so well done to you for even trying to be polite in an impossible situation.
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I'm going to try to go out today.
I agree with what you say about it being a success re the idiots. I think I'll keep reminding myself that I'm not like them and try to find comfort in that.
It's as a result of all of you on this site that I'm even going to attempt another outing.
Good for you and just remember that you by just getting the courage to go outside is halfway to winning the battle and getting through the journey is a win how you deal with the people outside good or bad is a bonus win in your battle just remember you are better than them (idiots) so keep your head up and smile at the World because you are doing your best and nothing is going to stop you from trying
Thanks for your message. I often fall foul of premature pressing of the send button... ha ha
I think often dog owners are friendly towards others with dogs, but seem to aggressive and uncooperative when asked to keep their pet at a distance. I agree it's bad owners not bad dogs.
She wasn't on her own, but with a man. After her comment that I shouldn't be on the streets I said they ought to keep their dog under control. By this time they were walking away from me. The man shouted at me that it was under control because it was on a lead. I asked why they were being so aggressive but they ignored me. Needless to say, I haven't left the house today.
It took me days to get myself out of the house in the first place...
Yes I can understand that as dogs are like children and no one likes any criticism of them but their comments were just horrible and I feel so angry that you weren't able to go out today because of them I can just picture what they were like
I'm so sorry that this affects your life like this and hope that people like those are a rarity
I've even had dog owners telling me that I'm pretending I have an allergy!!!???
Another said her dog was an "anti allergy dog ". ??????
I didn't criticise their dog. I only said that I didn't want it near me because of my allergy. I was pleasant and polite. In return they were insulting, rude and aggressive. Perhaps their dog was trying to get away from them? Ha ha
Hi, no I didn't think that were saying that I was criticising their dog at all. That's the problem with messages they're open to misinterpretation. I was just reiterating that I hadn't criticised it.
And, yes I agree people take umbrage at the slightest thing. Dogs and children being the most sensitive of subjects.
Poor dog. It probably tries to make an escape every time they take it out....😄
No it’s not a hate crime animals are not the problem the problem is with those of us that have allergies what do we do ,get rid of all animals what about perfume do we stop people using perfume ,car fumes do we stop people driving cars, the problem is within OUR BODIES
Sorry you had such a hostile reaction from the dog owner. To address your allergies, have you tried Montelukast? A single tablet taken at night. I have animal allergies but these are much better now, not completely sorted but enough for me to cope when staying with family who have cats.
Thanks for your message. Yes, I'm on Montelukast. It helps keep my asthma under some control, but I'm still prone to infections etc. I'm completely unable to be in any environment where there's an animal.
I'm pleased to hear it has worked for you though. 🙂
There will always be people who think they’re the center of the universe. Just be glad you’re not related to them.
Don't think hate crime just very awkward people. I do understand where you are coming from though, but my issue is with public smoking and vaping. Are you on anti histimines.
Yes, I'm on daily antihistamines and have Flixonase twice each day as well as Qvar as a preventer for my asthma. I'm allergic to dust, pollen etc as well as all animals.
Those people were very rude and nasty, unnecessarily so. I wouldn’t call it a hate crime. Lots of people we encounter on the streets can be very unpleasant , though luckily most people are not.
I can see it is hard for you. I am surprised you have so many places that dogs are allowed in to, but perhaps I don’t notice as I am not sensitive to them. I am however sensitive, not allergic, to many pollutants that are used very widely, like air fresheners, scented candles, smoke of any kind including cooking and baking (so sometimes to my own food preparation), perfumes etc, etc, etc. However not so sensitive that I can’t go out, it is just unpleasant and I can feel my airways reacting to them. My campaign would be to stop any version of air fresheners and scented candles for starters, as it not something we need, and they do pollute out air. Somehow I don’t think I will be very successful any time soon.
I'm not allergic to them but scented candles seem totally pointless. As for air fresheners - they make me want to heave. They're worse than the smell they're supposed to disguise. If our house smells I open the window. Works a treat, is free and doesn't pollute. 🙂
I did put in a complaint at our local hospital of all places when I found a high up air freshener on the wall in the loo. I also have had to ask customers I work with reduce their perfume and aftershave use.
Not sure. It was at the front desk on my way home after an appointment, where you could make immediate comments, not a full on one through, say, PALS. And luckily I have not had to attend in that way since, but if I encountered it again I might well complain. Unfortunately there are so many things that can irritate and affect my breathing - fresh paint, inscence sticks in restaurants, hair spray, chemical cleaning in si de buses......the list is really endless. I don’t have an attack - some people do - but I can feel it!
I am with you on this one. I has a severe asthma attack as a result of someone plugging in 3 large glade air fresheners and rurning them up on full at my place of work.
Not a hate crime as such, but extreme rudeness on that woman's part. I have an extreme peanut allergy, and it's VERY sensitive. I've had to get off buses, move carriage on trains, and so on. It's NEVER THEIR FAULT, or that's how Normies see it. It's MY fault for having this wierd condition. Food is food, peanuts are "just" peanuts, their dog is JUST their dog. Sigh. It is a hard world for us allergic inhabitants. Been fighting this all my life and it is extremely depressing. You have my sympathies, literally, and a big HUG.
Thanks for your message and the big hug. I needed that.
I'm sorry to hear about your peanut allergy. I'm not allergic to them but if someone on a train asked me not to eat something because they were allergic to it I'd be willing to stop.
Perhaps that's because I understand what a nightmare allergies are. But I like to think it's also because I'm sensitive to the needs of others.
It is interesting! In Sweden, where I have been a lot, at least some intercity coaches have a special compartment where any allergens or any scented articles etc are forbidden. And there are warnings on the door in there. I don’t know if all companies do this, but wouldn’t it be a start if trains etc had one compartment that was allergen and, smoke and scent free!
I'm still plugging away trying to get dog free compartments on trains. You could always contact Transport Focus with your suggestion. They're supposed to influence transport policies. I'm being fobbed off at the moment, but will continue. They say that it would be impossible to enforce, but I'm arguing that they enforce no smoking - so what's the difference?
Did you know that train operators have a statutory duty to allow pets on board? When did that happen?
The final insult is that they travel free of charge!!
Sorry to hear you had this problem. The lady response is not good as she should understand people do have allergies to dogs even most places are dog frindly does not
I have had similar responses and it is really hard and emotionally draining. I feel these days I am safe at home and that is where I want to stay. Before anxiety and depression staying in would have driven me crazy!
I think this link is interesting and suggests to me this is a hate incident.
Shocking attitude. We were on a beach in Dorset having a picnic and a dog that had been in the sea ran over to us, stood in the middle of our picnic and shook itself . The couple who owned the dog could not understand why we didn't laugh and find it funny and proceeded to swear at us and our two young children. Unbelievable!!! Thankfully most dog owners are not like this
That's absolutely appalling. There's nothing funny about that. Why on earth the owners thought it necessary to abuse you and not apologise is beyond my comprehension. I hope your children were ok. How upsetting for you all. I can't imagine anything worse than food covered in dog hair etc.
Unfortunately, owners like these make it more difficult for responsible owners.
Yes, she could have said a variety of things in response. No one would have been able to continue along the pavement. It was blocked by both dog and lead.
I had stood waiting patiently for them to get their dog under control.
I hope the next person she encounters isn't as polite as I was.
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