RELAX... It's Easy With The Tush-eez Cushion...
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/1060/c/186/a/503
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August 13, 2010
DOG OWNERS IGNORE WARNINGS OF GIRL'S ALLERGY TO THEIR PETS
DEAR ABBY: My 6-year-old daughter, "Meg," has severe eczema.
She's highly allergic to a long list of things, including
dogs. Recently, at a basketball court and at an outdoor res-
taurant, we encountered some dog owners who refused to pull
their dogs back after I informed them about her allergy.
Both said, "It's a public place!" as if my daughter should
not be in public. One man even argued that my child "couldn't
possibly" be allergic to his poodle.
I take my children out in public often, and I never allow
them to touch other people. Why can't dog owners understand
the concept? Other than avoiding public areas that are dog
friendly, and pulling my daughter away whenever she's touched
by a dog, what can I do?
-- MOM KNOWS BEST, IRVINE, CALIF.
DEAR MOM: The idea that dog owners would fail to pull their
animals back after being told someone was highly allergic
shocks me. However, because you can't make everyone behave
responsibly, you will have to "dog proof" your daughter.
At 6, she's old enough to understand the reason she's broken
out and itching is because she came in contact with one of
the things to which she is allergic. Teach her to stay out of
reach and to announce loudly, "Please hold your dog back! I'm
allergic!" when the situation calls for it. And if you are
with her and see someone with an animal approach, you should
take the initiative and say emphatically, "My daughter is
highly allergic to dogs. Please keep it away from my child!"
And while I'm at it, no child -- or adult -- should ever
touch a strange dog without the owner's permission because
you never know how the animal might react.
DEAR ABBY: I work at the front desk of a construction com-
pany. My work area is located in the lobby. I'm responsible
for greeting visitors, answering the phone, typing letters
and other administrative tasks. The only thing separating me
from the visitors is a 12-inch-high counter that surrounds
my desk.
Quite often, visitors must wait several minutes for the per-
son they're seeing to come to the lobby. When they do, they
often plant both arms on the counter, drape themselves over
the top and scan every piece of paper on the surface of my
desk, including what's showing on my computer screen. They
also try to converse with me while I'm trying to work and
answer the phone. I find this rude, inappropriate and an in-
vasion of my personal work space.
How can I convey this to visitors without coming across as
rude and jeopardizing the company's relationship with them?
Desk modifications are not an option.
-- BITING MY TONGUE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
DEAR BITING YOUR TONGUE: Ask your boss how sensitive the
correspondence you are handling is, and explain that it is
being viewed by clients who walk in. Some offices handle the
problem by keeping documents face down when they are not
being worked on. Also, consider tilting your computer moni-
tor and installing a privacy screen to block the view.
Because client relations is part of your job description, do
not allow your annoyance at chatty clients to show. Smile
and say, "I'd love to talk, but I have a ton of work I have
to finish. Would you like a magazine-newspaper-water while
you wait?" If that doesn't do the trick, find out from your
boss which of your tasks takes precedence.
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