Ribsy's puzzled by Girl's behavior. Sometimes she brings him with her inside stores and homes, and other times, she quickly slams the car door on his face before he can sneak his skinny self outside.
"Some establishments are just more pet friendly than others," explained Girl.
For example, most of the second hand and consignment furniture stores allow Ribsy to browse the aisles and wares. A couple of honourable mentions also go to Capital Iron and Canadian Tire on Douglas St. (not to be confused with the one on Shelbourne St, where he was rudely tossed out). Even Galleon Books & Antiques in Sidney, with pricey, dainty, delicate collectibles covering every inch of its floor space, kindly let Ribsy shop. And more and more businesses have a resident pet or two that greets shoppers, to most folks' delight, including Ribsy's faves - PJ, EB and Pita the whippets down at the Riviera Barbershop.
An L.A. Times article discusses the growing acceptance of pets in stores, since pets always bring their well-armed owners, who are willing and eager to buy - even more so, if proprieters are friendly to their kids, er pooches.
There's even a hotel in Austria that has banned kids under 12, but welcome dogs with open arms - because, according to the owner, dogs are better behaved (boo-yah!).
Of course, restaurants are not pet friendly, minus the few patios in town where Ribsy can shiver outside with Boy and Girl, and Doggy Style Deli in Vancouver. One of Girl's big ideas is to open up a restaurant with a dogs' play area, plexiglassed so that owners can keep tabs on their dogs, or watch their dogs eat their own meals chosen from the special dogs' menu.
That would be much nicer than sitting alone in the car, agreed Ribsy.
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