A controversial photo of a dog sitting inside a pram has sparked intense debate among shoppers.
On Sunday, the dog, which appears to be a Staffy, was spotted in a Brisbane Coles as its owner browsed the aisles.
The person who snapped the photo shared it on a local Reddit forum, referring to the light-hearted dog as a “good soul.”
However, many commentators argued that pets should not be allowed in supermarkets for hygiene reasons.
News.com.au understands that Coles upholds high food safety standards and is committed to providing a clean and safe environment for its customers.
A Coles spokesperson told this publication, “We do not allow pets or everyday animals into our stores.
“Assistance and companion animals are welcome to accompany their owners in our stores if they are clearly identified by a collar, coat or harness.
In the comments section, one user pointed out that this buyer’s behavior contributes to people with real service dogs being unjustifiably harassed.
They said, “Because others bring their untrained animals into stores, people with trained assistance dogs are often told to leave.”
Another user shared his thoughts saying: “I love dogs, especially big heads like that. But take it off the cart and away from sales and food preparation areas – gross.”
A third commenter added, “Grooms don’t get cleaned as often as people think. Now that someone has a dog’s ass on it.”
Another user offered a PSA for dog owners: “You shouldn’t take your dog anywhere. Leave it at home.”
Other comments labeled the act “righteous”, “arrogant”, “disgusting” and “irresponsible”.
One commenter claimed the dog’s owner, who looks tall and muscular with a shaved head, “knew the employees would be too scared of him and his aggressive dog to say anything.”
“This seems like a breed that is often in the news for attacking and harming people, especially children. I wouldn’t want this in a supermarket near kids,” said another.
Some commentators blamed Bunnings, suggesting the store had set a precedent by allowing pets, with one saying: “Now people think they can bring their dogs everywhere.”
However, not everyone was worried, with some pointing out that there are bigger issues to worry about.
A supermarket worker said: “Dogs are probably the least of your worries. Every day we find carts containing dirty nappies, dirty beans and even dirty needles.”
“At least the dog is in the cart so it can’t attack anyone,” another user commented.
According to the Food Standards Code, “a food business must not allow live animals in areas where food is handled or served”.
The code allows assistance animals in any area accessible to patrons.
Assistance animals are defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as guide dogs, dogs trained to assist individuals with hearing impairments or other animals trained to assist people with disabilities.
It is unclear if the dog in question was an assistance dog.
In a similar incident in September, two dogs were seen in shopping trolleys at a Woolworths store in Ballina, NSW, without their owner.
The pets were described as buyers of the “torn past”, which alarmed many due to their large breed.
A photo went viral showing two Staffies sitting happily in separate carriages in which staff members apparently carried them.
Although no harm was done, people were outraged at the way the situation was handled and also expressed concerns about hygiene.
One worried onlooker said: “I hope those two trolleys get a good cleaning before they are used again.”
Another added, “I can’t imagine buying and using these strollers after those dogs have been in them.”
Earlier this year, shoppers at Bunnings were left frustrated by dog poop left on the floor by “lazy” owners.
A furious customer posted a photo online showing dog poo strewn across a Bunnings aisle.
The customer wrote, “I’ll probably be grilled about this but I’m so sick of the dogs and their owners at Bunnings. On my last visit, there was dog waste in the hallway.”
They explained that they had to quickly find a member of staff to report the matter, but when they returned, they discovered that a woman had messed with her shopping cart.
Rachael McVitty, Bunnings chief customer officer, said the company has welcomed pets in stores for many years and values customer feedback.
“Like many other pet retailers, we take a sensible approach when welcoming dogs into our stores. The feedback we receive shows that the vast majority of pet owners respect other customers and our team as they are here,” she said.
“We work hard to ensure our stores remain safe and welcoming environments for everyone, so we’re disappointed to hear that one of our customers has had a negative experience.”
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