Dear Eric: I am very allergic to dogs. I have been bitten numerous times throughout my life so I am quite wary of dogs. Consequently, I am not fond of dogs.
Here in Colorado, dogs are increasingly taken everywhere, even places they are not allowed. I do not want to go into a restaurant and eat with “service animals.” I’ve quit flying, ceased going to shopping centers, recreation centers, home improvement stores, restaurant patios, riding on public transportation, and, of course, homes with pets.
I would like to go to a restaurant without dogs wandering around and would like to go to the grocery store without seeing dogs riding around in shopping carts.
What am I to do? Stay home and listen to the neighborhood dogs bark? This seems to be an addiction and a serious problem.
– Seriously Scratching
Dear Scratching: One solution is to call ahead to a restaurant and ask that no parties with service animals be seated near to you.
I’m concerned, however, that your aversion to dogs is impeding on your quality of life. While your negative experiences with dogs in the past are valid, it’s not reasonable to expect the world to change. So, what can you do? Talk to your allergist – are there ways of helping to mitigate the impact of potential exposure?
Talking to a counselor can also help to heal some of the trauma you’ve experienced from the dog bites. You may not get to a place of welcoming dogs, but you shouldn’t deprive yourself of plane trips and shopping centers on the off chance that a dog is there. There’s a way to coexist.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
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