‘AITA for telling another customer in a restaurant it’s gross to let her dog smell people’s food?’
OP (original poster) was at a salad chain in NYC to pick up food when they saw another customer with her dog up in the area where the food pickup orders wait. So, since the dog had been sniffing around (which, you know, dogs do), OP considers this pretty disgusting, especially as it has seen the pup pee outside and then walk in some pee, before he entered the restaurant. Some of the containers looked as though they were not completely closed, so that the dog’s paws and face was all but in people’s takeout food. She then called the dog owner disgusting, and left the restaurant. But the woman followed OP outside and claimed her dog was a service dog. OP made the argument that this was neither here nor there from the actual issue—why is the dog so near to other people’s food? As OP turned away, the woman was still shouting, and they found themselves second-guessing whether they had gone too far.
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OP’s frustration is understandable from both a hygiene and etiquette standpoint. While many people love dogs, not everyone wants them near their food, especially in a restaurant setting. The presence of pet hair, dander, and potential bacteria from the dog’s paws could pose a contamination risk. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code, animals—except for service animals—are generally not allowed in food establishments due to sanitation concerns. Even service animals are expected to behave in a manner that does not disrupt food safety.
1. Service Dog Considerations
The woman claimed her dog was a service dog, but service dogs are highly trained to behave appropriately in public settings. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are allowed in restaurants, but they must be under control at all times and should not be placed on furniture, tables, or near food preparation areas. Holding a service dog up near other people’s food is unusual behavior and could be considered a violation of health codes. Additionally, service dogs are not required to be carried unless they are trained for specific medical needs (e.g., detecting seizures for someone with epilepsy). This raises doubts about whether the dog in question was a legitimate service animal or if the woman was using the term loosely to justify bringing her pet inside.
2. Hygiene Concerns and Public Health Risks
From a public health perspective, the dog stepping in its own urine before entering the restaurant is a major red flag. Dogs can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which can easily be transferred from their paws to surfaces, including food containers. If the dog’s owner had placed it in a bag or on the ground (assuming it was well-trained), this risk would have been significantly minimized. OP’s concerns were valid given the potential for food contamination.
3. Social Etiquette and Public Reactions
In a crowded city like NYC, where many people rely on takeout and shared restaurant spaces, etiquette plays a big role. Even dog lovers might agree that allowing a dog to sniff around open food containers crosses a line. The woman’s defensive reaction—following OP outside and shouting—suggests she may have been more focused on proving a point rather than acknowledging the concern. Many service dog owners are aware of public expectations and work hard to ensure their animals do not interfere with others. The fact that she didn’t apologize or attempt to reassure OP that the dog was under control suggests she was unwilling to consider the impact on others.
Reddit Comments:
OP is allowed to criticise behaviour that endangers hygiene, especially in a public food business. That was not an insult; just a plain comment on food hygiene. Service dogs are allowed in restaurants, though they are trained not to be disruptive and an actual service animal owner would likely have recognized that this situation was not right. Such horrific aggression over something so seemingly small only proved that the woman had no interest in upholding common decency.
OP demonstrated restraint by merely walking away instead of confronting him!” And they were NTA because they put hygiene and public health over some SU’s entitled bullshit.
