Cool to one is cruel to another. Both dogs and cats are major allergens for many people; should your co-worker have to suffer through a day of severe allergies so your pet can be with you at work? Should a restaurant lose business because some folks like to bring in their dogs, who leave dander behind that makes the place unsafe for others?

I love cats, and we volunteer with a cat rescue group that re-habs feral cats and finds homes for them. But that doesn't mean I think people should be forced to be around them if they don't want to, or, like my son, have a life-threatening allergy to dogs.


Note: I do not apply this standard to trained companion animals, necessary for the safety of their owner - different situation entirely.