A friend of mine was showing me around in her new house. We got to her room and when she opened her closet door for me to have a peek, her little dog (one of the small fuzzy ones) jumped into the laundry basket full of dirty clothes and started ruffling around in it while we talked. (that's not the gross part) Then later, when we sat down to chat, her dog jumps into her lap and she starts to cuddle and pet it. The gross part is I've been over her other house before for dinner/coffee, and can't help but think how many times she's served me food and beverages without washing her hands after petting her dog who most likely uses the dirty clothes basket as a bed.
I know there are horror stories of what some waiters and chefs do while cooking or serving food, so this is probably nothing to compare. But still, I go there alot and am going to think twice about what she hands me to eat or drink.
Ok, I guess its just me!
Yes, I guess I left out the part she fixed us a snack after the tour. I didn't notice if she washed her hands or not, not that unwashed hands from walking around the house is any worse than petting a dog who was just sitting in the dirty laundry basket.
But ya'll must not be active and outdoor people! My dirty laundry is full of sports uniforms, workout clothes and socks, hunting clothes, fishing clothes, camping clothes, gardening clothes and a plethora of undergarments and male sports cups etc etc every week.
Since you have no idea if she washed her hands or not before preparing the food, this is just really kind of silly and out there and not something that would have even registered in my mind. Sorry!
I think there are a lot worse things she could be touching than her dog! Hopefully she washes her hands just in general.
I don't have any issues with that. I'm sure she washes her hands. Plus, if her kids get on her lap and she hugs them she is touching far worse LOL
I don't see the problem.
You could just as easily have witnessed a mom change her baby's diaper and cuddling it. What makes you think your friend doesn't wash her hands after playing with her dog?
I wash my hands before handling food, regardless of what they've touched.
I don't know about you, but I don't wear my clothes until they are filthy. They go into the dirty clothes basket because they need freshening up, or have a stain. I think that many pet owners don't think to wash their hands after handling their pets because the pet is considered a part of the family. This is probably why children who come from households with pets tend to have less allergies and better developed immune systems. So, really, she's doing you a favour.
egads!
i thought you were going to say the dog licked its butt and then she kissed it, or that fleas were jumping out of the dog bed, or that she cleaned up the yard poop and then served you without washing her hands.
i hope friends who come visit me aren't this squeamish!
ETA, your SWH is just a little passive aggressive, isn't it? actually, many of us are active and outdoorsy (farm, horses, little league etc). we just don't assume that other people who pet their animals also don't wash their hands.
khairete
S.
Did you leave out part of your story - like that she was petting the dog, then made some food for you without washing? If not, then your imagination is going haywire.
A dirty clothes basket would possibly be the least gross thing a typical dog rolls around in, btw. You don't even want to think about what they find outside to play with.
ok so it didn't disturb you until you saw the dog playing in a laundry basket?
why did adding the laundry in there put it over the edge? I don't think that's a big deal.
I don't see anything gross with it.
Her dog was using DIRTY CLOTHES, not clean clothes.
Her dog was in her lap, not on the table or on the counter (like cats can be).
The clothes were not "dirty" as in filled with excrement or oil or anything like that - right? they were WORN clothes? No problem there. My dog LOVES to lay on my CLEAN clothes! And yes, I have to be on top of it - or else I have to re-wash it.
I'm not sure where the problem is here...did you see her handle your food without washing her hands? i am sure she did. But really - most dogs that are indoor dogs are "clean"....
You don't want to come to my house, A.. Our cat is allowed pretty much everywhere. He sometimes sleeps in the laundry pile at the bottom of the basement stairs. Those clothes DO get washed, you know. I am not a fan of the 'cat hair' look.
I actually hold him and pet him too. Petting a pet?! Egads!!!
He has a water glass of his own (because it is less gross than him drinking out of ours, and he loves a nice glass of water!), he loves to walk/lie on the kitchen table and look out the window (great way for Kiddo to build immunities, ha!, and we wipe it thoroughly before meals). Because he is a geriatric kitty, I sometimes have to do other things which I actually do think fall into the realm of gross from time to time, but the day-to-day living with kitty is not icky.
I think you are likely a bit squeamish in this regard. For what it's worth, however, we do wash our hands before serving food/beverages. I mean, that's a common sense rule whether or not one has pets, right? THAT anyone would serve food without washing their hands-- that to me is
Laying in the dirty clothes basket is less gross in my opinion than a dog bed which gets washed how many times - never? I agree with others who say most of us don't wear our clothes to a disgusting point. I think you are letting your imagination run away with itself. How is her house overall? I have friends/family whose overall housekeeping is lacking and those are the people I don't want feeding me. If your friend's house is neat and tidy, then I would think it would be acceptable to eat and drink at her house.
If it bothers you, though, you could always lead by example and with a subtle hint. "Hey, Suzie, I need to wash my hands before we have our snack/lunch/tea/whatever." While you stand there looking expectantly for her guidance to the soap/drying towel/etc., she might think to wash her hands with you.
I would be fine with it. Then again we have three cats and a dog.
If I am fixing food, regardless of where the cats have been (and trust me, my DH's workout gear will knock the color off a horse), I wash my hands or use hand sanitizer. If you would rather get your own food, then just offer to help or you might say, "Just a minute, I was petting the dog and don't want to eat without washing my hands first." Honestly, if you haven't noticed before and you haven't been sick, then it's probably something your immune system is already OK with.
Love Sherrie G's answer but we too have two dogs and a cat. My kids are probably the healthiest of our group.
I have to think you just aren't an animal person.
I LOVE my little 11 lb mixed terrier. I cuddle her whenever I can. I also love to cook and do so daily for my family. No way in he** am I doing anything related to food or eating where I don't wash my hands first - ever. Doggie is bathed probably a little too much and she's an inside dog. She doesn't really even lick herself, but, sorry - she's still a dog and I'm going to wash my hands before I touch even my own food. I personally think it's really gross when people pet a dog or a cat and then just eat without washing their hands. If that makes me squeamish, then I guess that's what I am.
And don't get me started on cats who walk on tables and counter tops. Everyone knows that cats scratch around in their litter boxes, right? So there's pee/poo on their paws (and potentially dogs' paws too). So if their talking a walk on your counter and then you're putting food there, you're essentially eating poo residue. Yuck.
It is always good to reflect on what bothers you and why. It brings up on our own issues.
This is YOUR issue. A pet is a wonderful asset to any home and the main memory that children love. If a pet has had it's shots and is taken care of they add so much to the joy and fun a family has.
We just had our 12 yr old dachshund pass away and our kids and my husband were saying how much fun and joy and stress relief she brought to our family.
If you want to try and remove everything in life that may have a few germs you will have a very sterile, hospital like life. Pets that are cared for are not gross.
