No, your non-servile dog does not belong in the grocery store. Or, plainly, riding along in the cart like a child.

I really wanted to photograph and shame, but did not. It was a woman about my age (30s/40s) with some midsize, doodly-looking brown dog riding along in the big section of the cart, through vulnerable produce, without a care.

She makes friendly conversation with anyone, my what an icebreaker. I pass her idly a few times giving the stink-eye. A store employee comes up and hugs the curly thing. Like nah, not on duty, because the dog has none.

So I’m starting to second-guess my knowledge of law and order and sanitary shopping conditions. Woman heads to self checkout as I hit the line. I tell my checker hey, there’s a dog in this store. Is that allowed? She says, why, no it ain’t, we have a sign posted up front that says no way.

Bless the checker with my agnostic appeals to sanity, because she immediately went to talk to the woman, who looked a little sheepish, and I hope it’s not an offense repeated.

Just gross. Obey good rules.