Oh God, I agree. Also it's one thing having it in the city and another in the more rural areas. I haven't seen anything more pathetic than those stiff, sensibly dressed a-holes walking around after their poodle master with a baggie. I mean I get the public perspective, but seriously.

And yes, the store thing is weird too. The dog will be fine if you leave it outside for 5 minutes. It's become a thing. A whole identity. Go figure, since people actively identify, as you pointed out, as "cat dads" or "dog moms" or whatever. Bish, how empty are you?