Taking Care Of Business At Your Business

(I work in big box retail. I walk out to the garden center to see dog poop on the floor. An old lady is fifty feet away with a dog.)

Me: “Excuse me, ma’am, we only allow service animals in the store. Otherwise it’s a health code violation, and that is an example of why. Can I get you to clean up after your dog, please?”

Customer: “What?! He didn’t do that!”

(I manage not to say, ‘Did you do it, then?’)

Me: “Ma’am, he’s the only dog in the store, and this is why we do not allow them. The cashier will be glad to give you a plastic bag.”

Customer: “Well, can I finish my shopping first?”

Me: “No, I don’t want another customer to step in it. Please clean it up.”

Customer: “Well, I don’t want to walk all the way [to the register]; can you bring me the bag?”

(We are literally ten feet away from the register.)

Me: “Here you go, ma’am. Thank you for taking care of that.”

Customer: “I still don’t think he did it.”

(I walked away. Quickly.)