It’s not about empathy, it’s about stopping the spread of disease and parasites. This was a hard-fought battle we won decades ago, but apparently we’re re-litigating, no different than vaccines or pasteurization.

There was a hard won battle? there was most defintly not, but itcs worth a try, so lets start with exterminating rats, mice, cockroaches. And then providing a minimum standard of care and funding for the millions of poor, unhealthy, disease carrying humans. And then worry too much about the dumb fucking cats, which as you might be able to discern, do not have my sympathy, but I am coward enough, not to mess with the legions of cat lovers......,..but did get down voted for the following Rat?, Bat!, Splat!, how bout that.

You mean empathy to people who are allergic to animals or empathy for instagram addicts that need to take a picture of their dog on top of restaurant tables?

I have seen both. My empathy leans towards protecting the first group.

Use a different restaurant? Are allergies a protected class for discrimination? If being in the same vicinity as a dog is too much, I guess taking a dog for a walk should be illegal too. And anything that produces pollen for that matter.

I’m also not aware of any pet-friendly bars or restaurants that have dogs regularly climbing on top of eating tables. I’m aware of a few which allow a dog on the floor somewhere