New bouncer at Tops hates dogs

<p>I live around the corner from the Lemon Tree Spar in Linden and I regularly walk my dog, who is small, in the neighbourhood. Sometimes, on the way back from my walk, I stop at Tops and purchase a six-pack or a bottle. It is literally five steps from the door of the shop to the fridge and I have regularly bought something there - all I do is take my dog, who is very well-behaved and non-aggressive, to the fridge, grab my drinks, pay and walk out. I have done this regularly in the past without incident or accident - it's in and out with no problems whatsoever.</p> <p> </p> <p>Today, the new guard / manager / whatever refused entry to my dog and indicated that I was no longer allowed to bring him into the shop for the thirty seconds it takes me to buy my beer. I fully understand that the main store at SPAR does not allow dogs, as there is food there and it is unhygienic for a pet to enter the store. But in the bottle store, there is no food at all - everything is in bottles and there is absolutely no risk of something becoming "contaminated" by my dog. Furthermore, he is on a leash and there is no risk of him running wild and knocking anything over. There is no sign on the bottle store indicating that there are no dogs allowed. I have brought him in there at least thirty times before this dog-hater was appointed.</p> <p> </p> <p>It is a sign of a nation's health if they treat their animals poorly, and I am disgusted that SPAR has this attitude towards my pet. SPAR is a Dutch chain, and in Holland, animals are welcomed and loved - there are even restaurants where pets are allowed! Yet my little dog is not allowed to spend 30 seconds in the store while I buy a six-pack or two?</p> <p> </p> <p>On a matter of principle I will not be purchasing anything from Tops, or SPAR for that matter, again. The Lemon Tree SPAR always had my regular support as it is the nearest store to my home, and I usually purchase about R6 000 worth of groceries there on a given month. However, because of their terrible attitude toward my pet, they will never see a cent of my money again.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>