Ok...I've had ENOUGH!!

[hammerdrill376]

Maybe its alot of things..I'm getting older..less than  5 years away from being able to join the AARP..or just loosing a little bit of patience..but I have had about all I can stand of people and their dogs. Let me explain.

I am in a service business (pest control) and I deal with anywhere from 10-12 homeowners accounts everyday. Alot of my customers have pets..dogs, cats, fish and the occasional snakes. In particular I am really aggrivated with people who have dogs. Now in all fairness most people have the "common sense" to secure their pet while I am there doing service. But I swear the biggest problem is with people who have big dogs (labs, german shepards, etc.) I usually get the cursory.."Oh don't worry he won't bite" and while thats all fine and good it makes doing my job that much harder while Fido, FE Fee, or freakin Rover is trying to jump all over me while I am trying to service their home. usually I get.."Oh he really likes you"..or.."Oh I'm so sorry..she just likes people." well thats all fine and good but don't people have any common courtesy or common sense where their animals are concerned. Apparently not.

Now I know they are paying customers so unless it is a pit bull I pretty much grin and bear it. (With pits I insist they put them up...or NO service) I also realize people love their dogs and thats fine. But holy hell.. when a guy is trying to do service give the poor guy a break and put your dog somehere where he/she won't interfere. Not only that but some people are not aware other people are allergic to dog or cat hair and I spend at least three times a day using a roll brush to get pet hair off me so I won't track it into other peoples homes.

I don't want to sound cold hearted. I know some people think of their pets the same as they do their own children but please for the sake of other service guys..be they AC techs, plumbers, electricians or pest control if you have a guy doing work at your home put yoru dog up somewhere. It would be appreciated more than you know.

Wheeeeeeeeeww man do i feel better..thanks for letting me vent

[TheSlyBear]

Your post is not offensive in the least to dog owners.

As the owner of two dogs that love everybody and think that anyone who comes to the house is there to play with them, I'm sure to keep them in check unless it's clear that the visitor is wanting to give them some attention.

It's very rude to assume that everyone wants your dogs to jump all over them uninvited.

P.S. Of course I have the same beef with parents who think that their kids are so adorable that no one minds if they're raising holy hell in public...

[SlyintheOC]

You GO, Bro!!!!!

You have every right to feel that way. I can totally understand your feelings. It seems like most of the people anymore do NOT use any common sense even if they do have any. If you call someone out for a service, they should be allowed to do such service without any distractions or obstacles. I find most people nowadays lookout for only themselves and try to find, in every situation, what's in it for them. For those people I feel sorry for.

We are very lucky that we have this great group of guys to confide in and share our thoughts with..... for this brotherhood looks out for one another and gives support to whoever needs it whenever they need it.

[TheSlyBear]

Obligatory photo:

[Robmeister]

I can appreciate that.  We have a very friendly bull dog and he is consigned to his kennel with any service calls of any kind.

[hammerdrill376]

Your post is not offensive in the least to dog owners.

As the owner of two dogs that love everybody and think that anyone who comes to the house is there to play with them, I'm sure to keep them in check unless it's clear that the visitor is wanting to give them some attention.

It's very rude to assume that everyone wants your dogs to jump all over them uninvited.

P.S. Of course I have the same beef with parents who think that their kids are so adorable that no one minds if they're raising holy hell in public...

Yes sir..I will second you on the kids..and teenagers as well!!

[Razor X]

I can appreciate that.  We have a very friendly bull dog and he is consigned to his kennel with any service calls of any kind.

So are my dogs.

[Timmay]

you can add carpet guys to that as well.  I actually had a  dog ...little dog mind you...take off with my note pad that had measurements on it from a previous job and the the lil F'er chewed the damn thing up.  The home owner was like .....well when he gets ahold of something is normally chews the hell out of it.  WELL WHY DONT YOU TRY TO STOP HIM INSTEAD OF SAYING LOOK AT HIM ATTACK THAT THING....WHERE DID YOU AHVE THAT AT LAST? IN A MEAT MARKET? 

Pisses me off to no end

[(|8-)]

Ever since a friend of mine who is a dog owner and dog lover got bit in the face (about an inch below her eye) by someone else's previously harmless dog, I think it's crazy for people not to leash their dogs and keep them controlled around strangers.  I like to think that I am "good with dogs," but I've realized there's really no way to tell, and I'm no better than my friend.

PG&E always asks when they set an appointment if there are dogs and they make it clear that they're supposed to be controlled.  In a way, it makes it easier to take a firm stand before you've seen the dog--you're not insulting their particular dog, but making it clear that it's a policy.  I think explaining like you did here that you are in and out of a lot of homes and even though you personally love dogs, you can't track dog hair into some other customers' homes would be very effective, especially if you said so even before seeing the dog.

You could also tell people that your tools and clothes are full of higher than normal concentrations of dangerous chemicals but that might not make them so happy about your service...

[PeripheralxMvmnt]

I dont think youre out of line at all. When i worked for Dell doing house calls, i would get the same thing. I started carrying an extra set of work clothes with me because there was this one house that had a dinosaur of a dog that would jump on me, and i got filthy.What sucked was that i still had other calls to do.


i didnt think about the fact that other end users might be allergic to cat/dog hair from other calls.... good thinking ahead!   

[Mikekoz13]

I agree with yoiu Hammer..... and the rest of the guys. I have three dogs and they go to ther "dens" when company comes. Once they settle down I'll let them out for a short visit if the visitor rerquests it.

I've owned both large and small dogs over the last eleven years...... and they all get the same treatment. I love them but they are stll dogs.

My Dad was a service man for Sears for over 30 years. He went to people's homes to fix appliances. Dogs were always a problem.
About a year or so before he retired he went to a home with a large Siberian Husky. He was uncomfortable with the dog (and he's a huge dog lover) and asked the owner top put him away. The owner gave Dad the "He doesn't bite" comment.

Well the dog followed Dad everywhere. When dad pulled thr "Frig out from the wall the dog was right there with his nose, when dad sat on the floor to get under the "frig the dog's nose was again right there.... and when Dad popped the vent cover off the bottom of the 'Frig the dog got startled and attacked my dad. Lunged and grabbed Dad by the throat and broke the skin very badly.

Dad had to immediately go to the Hospital. Stitches and warnings of infection were what Dad took away from the "He doesn't bite" dog. And about a week later it got infected. What a nightmare for Dad. It took months to get that wound straightened out.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

We always put Miss Irma away, not so much for our pest controller, but even though he has assured us, and we believe him, that the materials aren't hazardous to her, we prefer them to dry, and then make sure that Irma doesn't "inspect" the job after he's gone.  Prefer for her sake to be safe rather than sorry.  We like the pest controller, but we love Irma--no offense intended Hammer.

[hammerdrill376]

It was really cool today. I had an owner ask me if I wanted them to secure their two black labs. I thought about it for a sec and told them it would be best so they would not be too curious and lick up some of the product as I was applying it. What we use is pretty safe anyway but no need in taking chances. They appreciated what I said and did as asked. When I left they thanked me for being concerned for their dogs well being as they had just lost one recently and were still getting over the emotion of it. Great customers....and a GREAT tip too!!