I was standing in line at my yokel Starbucks the other day. It was busier than usual – the weekend – and they were getting orders from people in line, to stay ahead of the rush. I had already ordered my tall drip, simple house coffee guy that I am. I heard the barrista take an order from the guy behind me, then ask, “service dog, sir?”

“Excuse me?” the guy answered.
“Is this a service dog, sir? Because otherwise we really don’t allow …”
“Yeah, the dog is serving me.”

I glanced back and saw the guy had a little dog on a leash, in the coffeehouse. Looked like a poodle mix to me. Which is illegal in California; you can’t take a dog in a place that serves food, unless it is a service dog, such as a guide dog for a blind person. And if that little white fuzzball was a service dog, I’m a giraffe in a tutu. Still, I kind of admired the doofus for keeping his dog with him, not tying it up outside or something. Pets are family. And I see no rational reason not to allow such a dog in a coffeehouse.

I predict things may change, that we’ll see more and more pet-friendly businesses. I hope so. Here’s a story from today’s paper, about a pets-only airline. No joke.

“The pet-only airline launched its inaugural flights last week to much fanfare among animal lovers who share Wiesel’s distaste for sending a cherished pet into the underbelly of a jetliner.” [Los Angeles Times]