Michael California regulates in Chapter 8 of the "Health and Safety Code that no dogs are allowed inside establishments that sell food, such as restaurants or grocery stores. However, Californians are absolutely infatuated with their dogs and don't take laws very seriously. Lately, I've been noticing more and more that dog owners are simply ignoring the health department's regulations, and the present store staff don't have the courage to reprimand the violators. Apparently, there are no consequences for the stores either, otherwise, they would be as strict as they are with the serving of alcohol or the sale of cigarettes, where they go to absurd lengths to comply with all the regulations that prevent minors from buying beer or tobacco products. Especially in grocery stores with a hipster-boy and yoga-girl clientele, you often encounter people with huge dogs, at least in California. I've even seen dogs who unabashedly licked the sausages displayed in the refrigerated section! The fines from the regulatory office seem to be laughable, otherwise, the management would give the employees, who naturally couldn't care less, a proper dressing-down.

An exception exists in restaurants with outdoor seating: In these outdoor areas, dogs are allowed to sit under the table with their owners. However, we have also seen dog lovers offering their plates to their dogs for licking. Bon appétit, dear guests!

Dog owners could, of course, declare their Fido as a service dog for the disabled, but that is not as easy as convincing airlines that the dog is an "Emotional Support Animal" without which the traveler would immediately suffer a nervous breakdown. Genuine service dogs wear special harnesses, and the owner carries the corresponding paperwork. However, I predict that the dog ban will eventually be forgotten because no one enforces it, just like camping on sidewalks in San Francisco and breaking car windows to secure the livelihood of the homeless are now considered normal, and the perpetrators go unpunished.

• More topics you might be interested in:

  	Everyday Life in Times of the Coronavirus
  	Shelter in Place
  	Döner in the Döner Diaspora
  	Male, Female, and Non-binary
  	Scottsdale

  
  

• More topics you might be interested in:

  	Everyday Life in Times of the Coronavirus
  	Shelter in Place
  	Döner in the Döner Diaspora
  	Male, Female, and Non-binary
  	Scottsdale