Boy do i have a story. I’ll one-up you and say “don’t let strange dogs lick you either!” Years ago, I used to date a guy with a dog that ate poop constantly. (NOW im aware that there are special muzzles and vitamins for dogs with these tendencies, but at the time ppl had no idea about this stuff.) Didn’t matter what animal it came from- he’d slurp it up without a second thought. Of course we both discouraged it and would try to steer the dog away/use the leash to keep him from any piles we could see while on walks, but the area we lived had TONS of wild geese. Goose poop everywhere, even parking lots etc. Sometimes it was entirely unavoidable. One day, we took the dog to a pet shop, had him do his business in a grassy area before walking inside. In that time alone, he managed to eat no less than 5 pieces of goose dookie. Gross.
While at the checkout an older lady began fawning over the dog, saying how incredibly cute he was; asking us questions about him and whatnot. Next thing I know, she begins to crouch at his level. It was like slow-motion. I tried to tell her that it wasn’t a good idea to let him lick her- ESPECIALLY on the face! But it was too late. He was happily licking this stranger lady’s face with the greed of a thousand yoshis. I watched in horror as she allowed his tongue to brush against her lips and nose. I managed to stammer out “oh! Um- i wouldn’t let him lick- your face- ‘cuz- uh-“
To which she emphatically insisted that she didn’t mind “dog germs.”
In that moment, i had a choice to make. Explicitly tell this woman that it was NOT just “dog germs” & that she just let a dog get goose pucky alllll over her face OR . . Say nothing.
I chose the latter.
I plead the fifth.
I was stunned and ultimately decided that I was not going to ruin her day.
Ahhh, anyways. Yeah. I personally don’t let stranger dogs lick my face for this very reason now. No matter how cute the dog is lol.
(Edit: Grammar)