A Dog Day Afternoon for Restaurants
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“The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.” - Unknown
I just watched a news presentation featuring a new business in my area - a swimming pool for dogs. Not a terrible idea. It was the ad in my local paper that bothered me - A Philadelphia Tavern is now promoting “Yappy Hour”.
Dogs are wonderful. We’re talking about man’s best friend, and I would be out of my mind to denigrate them and what they stand for. It’s just that they have a place, and a public bar or restaurant isn’t one of them. I totally get the ad and all it’s creativity - Bring your pooch to “Yappy Hour” on Thursdays, 5 to 7pm. The dog had a hard day, and the pooch deserves a drink (one-dollar) and most certainly a pooch appetizer ($2.50). It’s a beautiful, warm and fuzzy thing. The problem is that I also had a hard day, and I’m not in the mood to sit at a bar next to a poodle or a Saint Bernard. You say hello to almost any dog and they are invariably stuck for an answer. At this moment (with no disrespect intended), I prefer people.
The promotion is cute and possibly even effective, but not for me (and millions of people like me). Pets are wonderful, and
I highly recommend them. Please consider this a request to all those creative (and somewhat desperate) marketing types. Dogs
belong in your den next to the fire-place - they do not belong in our bars and restaurants.
I do understand that it’s a big thing for owners to bring their pets to certain restaurants that welcome dogs for outdoor dining. Maybe it’s good business and again, it’s warm and fuzzy. On a very personal basis, and quietly and respectfully, I will choose to look for another spot.
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This must be some new trend….there is a so-called “yappy-hour” in a new luxury Swedish hotel chain that just opened in East Hampton. There is actually a whole “Doggy menu”. Leave your dogs at home people! They can’t tell the difference between a $40 filet mignon and their own excrements.