Taubman Prestige Outlets in Chesterfield has a few unusual customers: dogs. Although I’m an avid dog lover, I disagree with Taubman Prestige’s choice to allow dogs into about 75 percent of its stores because of health and safety risks the dogs may present.

Dogs are animals of instinct and may act out at any time. The mall requires that dogs be on a leash no longer than six feet in order to keep the dogs under control, but in such close quarters it’s hard to say

that even a short leash can keep a dog under control. There haven’t been any fights yet; however, workers in the mall have said that there have been dogs who were separated due to aggressive behavior.

The mall is not equipped to handle the dogs and their needs. There is no green area for the dogs to relieve themselves, and the clean-up stations are outside and far apart. Being allergic to dogs is also a

very common problem, but there is nothing being done to protect the customers in the mall other than the stickers saying which stores allow dogs, but the stickers are small and not easily noticed.

I believe that there is a time and a place for everything, including being with dogs. There are outdoor areas where dogs are encouraged to be, and those are safe and healthy

places for them and the people around them.