In the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How Rude!"

Kent and I had planned to tour a doggy Bed and Breakfast on Sunday afternoon. We'd hoped to be able to leave Coca there on a trial run the weekend that we're going to Festival International. When I'd called before, they gave me the prices and said that the dogs spend the day hanging out with other dogs and spend the night in their suites. I was a little concerned because, as you may or may not know, Coca weighs about the same as a bag of sugar. I called "Pampered Pets" today and explained that I'd gotten prices and a description of their services and that I was a little concerned about the dogs being all together. I asked the old man that answered the phone if the dogs were separated by size. He said, "No." So, I said, "You mean, my 5 lb dog is going to be spending the day with German Shepherds and Great Danes?" Then he responded hastily, "No! Small dogs are in the front and large dogs are in the back. STOP AND THINK!" I was shocked by his rudeness and harsh response to a legitimate concern. I mean, usually when you say no, they're not divided by size, that means they're all together. I said okay and hung up.

I told a girl I work with, Nichole, about the conversation. She asked if I wanted her to call and see if they treated her the same way. I told her she should. Nichole pretended to be the owner of a small dog getting some information about their facility. She spoke with a lady (not the old man I spoke with). The lady explained that the dogs were together during the day ...blah blah blah. Nichole then asked a similar question to what I'd asked. She said, "So all of the dogs are together?" The "lady" replied, "Yes." So, Nichole said, "My small dog is going to be with Rotweillers and other large dogs?" Then the lady said, "WHAT DO YOU THINK???!!" Nichole, being alot braver than I am, responded by saying "Excuse me! I'm just trying to find a good place for my dog." I was glad she'd responded that way. The alleged lady tried to be a little nicer then.

Needless to say, we will not be touring "Pampered Pets" nor will Coca be staying there. I know its no skin of their reptilian backs but I'll never give them any money.

Not going somewhere because they were rude doesn't really affect the business. What's the measley amount I would have paid them compared to what they make in a day, right? However, I just can't do it. That is, in fact, why I no longer go to the "Family Christian Store" in the Esplanade mall. I like to lovingly refer to it as the "Death Store" and sometimes hiss when we pass by it. Actually, I was hissing at the "Family Christian Store" one day when someone walked past me and looked a little freaked out. I realized she probably thought I was some type of devil worshipper hissing at the Christians. I then tried to joke, loudly, about it hoping she'd here me telling Kent why I was hissing. Anyway...I know that hissing in public is not normal for a 26 year old person.

There is one store to which I've made an exception. Sav-A-Center...because it's one block from our house and sometimes I desperately need some crusty bread and fudgcicles.