Bunnings controversy: Customers seek policy change amid pet debate
- Replies 35
In recent years, the presence of pets in public spaces has sparked contentious debates.
While some advocate for pet-friendly policies, others argue that many public areas designed initially for human activities are unsuitable for animal environments.
This debate often leads to heated discussions about cleanliness, safety, and pet owners' rights versus non-pet owners' preferences.
Customers at Bunnings expressed frustration over incidents involving dogs in store aisles, citing concerns about cleanliness and safety.
A photo shared on social media captured multiple dog droppings scattered along an aisle, prompting an outcry among shoppers.
‘I’m probably going to get roasted for this, but I am so b***** sick of dogs and their owners at Bunnings,’ the customer shared in the post.
‘At my last visit, there was literal dog s*** in the aisle.’
The customer recounted quickly locating a staff member, only to return and find another shopper had inadvertently rolled over the mess with their trolley.
The image sparked criticism from fellow Bunnings patrons, many of whom voiced concerns about the store's pet-friendly policy.
‘I think people who leave their dog s*** in the aisles should be banned from Bunnings permanently,’ one social media user commented.
‘Dogs should be allowed, but there should be a cleaning policy. If you let your dog s*** and don’t even bother to pick it up, you should get a lifetime ban from that Bunnings. Absolutely trash behaviour,’ another said.
Bunnings' Chief Customer Officer, Rachael McVitty, responded to the incident, noting that the company has welcomed pets into their stores for many years.
She emphasised the importance of receiving customer feedback and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.
‘Like many other retailers that offer pet products, we take a commonsense approach when welcoming dogs into our stores.’ she announced.
‘The feedback we receive shows that the vast majority of pet owners are respectful of other customers and our team when they’re in our stores,’
‘We work hard to make sure our stores are safe, welcoming environments for everyone, and we’re disappointed to hear that one of our customers had a negative experience.’
‘We encourage any customer to reach out to one of our team members if they see or experience something we should be aware of so we can resolve it on the spot.’
Bunnings' store permits assistance animals and ‘well-behaved’ pets on a leash.
According to the store policy, owners are responsible for completely controlling their pets and cleaning up after them. Failure to do so may result in owners being asked to remove their pets from the store.
Additionally, they can provide pet owners with dog bags and cleaning cloths if requested.
The customer mentioned previous incidents involving dogs causing disturbances, including a dog entangling its leash around another customer's legs and a ‘dog fight’ at the service desk.
The discussion has led to debates over whether non-service dogs should be allowed inside stores like Bunnings.
‘You don’t take your dog when you get a haircut, browse for clothes, try on shoes, go to the library or a plethora of public places of business. Bunnings shouldn’t be any different,’ one said.
‘I actually don’t understand the need for the general population to take their dogs to Bunnings. Why? Because you can?’ another agreed.
Others suggested a designated dog area outside the store for customers who insist on bringing their pets.
In related news, in a Guzman y Gomez restaurant in Sydney, a couple allowed their dog to sit on a table, triggering strong reactions from other diners.
A photo of the incident spread on social media, drawing criticism from many Australians who described the behaviour as 'disgusting' and 'unhygienic'. More details on this story are available here.
What do you think about bringing non-service dogs or pets to public places? How can we ensure other shoppers are not disturbed? Share your views and ideas in the comments below.
While some advocate for pet-friendly policies, others argue that many public areas designed initially for human activities are unsuitable for animal environments.
This debate often leads to heated discussions about cleanliness, safety, and pet owners' rights versus non-pet owners' preferences.
Customers at Bunnings expressed frustration over incidents involving dogs in store aisles, citing concerns about cleanliness and safety.
A photo shared on social media captured multiple dog droppings scattered along an aisle, prompting an outcry among shoppers.
‘I’m probably going to get roasted for this, but I am so b***** sick of dogs and their owners at Bunnings,’ the customer shared in the post.
Bunnings customers are upset by dogs in store aisles. Credit: Reddit
‘At my last visit, there was literal dog s*** in the aisle.’
The customer recounted quickly locating a staff member, only to return and find another shopper had inadvertently rolled over the mess with their trolley.
The image sparked criticism from fellow Bunnings patrons, many of whom voiced concerns about the store's pet-friendly policy.
‘I think people who leave their dog s*** in the aisles should be banned from Bunnings permanently,’ one social media user commented.
‘Dogs should be allowed, but there should be a cleaning policy. If you let your dog s*** and don’t even bother to pick it up, you should get a lifetime ban from that Bunnings. Absolutely trash behaviour,’ another said.
Bunnings' Chief Customer Officer, Rachael McVitty, responded to the incident, noting that the company has welcomed pets into their stores for many years.
She emphasised the importance of receiving customer feedback and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.
‘Like many other retailers that offer pet products, we take a commonsense approach when welcoming dogs into our stores.’ she announced.
‘The feedback we receive shows that the vast majority of pet owners are respectful of other customers and our team when they’re in our stores,’
‘We work hard to make sure our stores are safe, welcoming environments for everyone, and we’re disappointed to hear that one of our customers had a negative experience.’
‘We encourage any customer to reach out to one of our team members if they see or experience something we should be aware of so we can resolve it on the spot.’
Bunnings' store permits assistance animals and ‘well-behaved’ pets on a leash.
According to the store policy, owners are responsible for completely controlling their pets and cleaning up after them. Failure to do so may result in owners being asked to remove their pets from the store.
Additionally, they can provide pet owners with dog bags and cleaning cloths if requested.
The customer mentioned previous incidents involving dogs causing disturbances, including a dog entangling its leash around another customer's legs and a ‘dog fight’ at the service desk.
The discussion has led to debates over whether non-service dogs should be allowed inside stores like Bunnings.
‘You don’t take your dog when you get a haircut, browse for clothes, try on shoes, go to the library or a plethora of public places of business. Bunnings shouldn’t be any different,’ one said.
‘I actually don’t understand the need for the general population to take their dogs to Bunnings. Why? Because you can?’ another agreed.
Others suggested a designated dog area outside the store for customers who insist on bringing their pets.
In related news, in a Guzman y Gomez restaurant in Sydney, a couple allowed their dog to sit on a table, triggering strong reactions from other diners.
A photo of the incident spread on social media, drawing criticism from many Australians who described the behaviour as 'disgusting' and 'unhygienic'. More details on this story are available here.
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