Harrisonburg Farmers Market DOG POLICY

Effective May 2011

For the safety and comfort of all of our customers, we request that all customers follow these policies with dogs:
• Dogs must be kept on a very short leash at all times.
• We ask that you refrain from having your dog in the Pavilion or in the Vendor row in the Alley between the hours of 9 am and 12 noon on Saturdays.
• The policy is in effect May through September.
• We appreciate your cooperation and support in keeping our Market a place where everyone has the opportunity to shop in an environment that is comfortable for them.

People feel strongly about dogs. Some people love them and think of them as a part of their family. They enjoy having their dogs with them and bringing them along to the Market as a valued part of their Saturday morning routine. Other people are extremely afraid of dogs and do not want to be anywhere near them. Some are very uncomfortable with the sanitation factor, and having dogs in close proximity to the food that they are potentially purchasing is very worrisome. Some are very young and don’t always understand the safe way to approach a dog, while some are older and unsteady on their feet and an energetic dog can be a little scary.

The most important point in all of this is: We love all of our customers and want the Market to be a welcoming and pleasant place for everyone. We have struggled with how to address this issue and have come up with what we hope is an approach that will have something for everyone.

Beginning in May 2011, we will be asking that those of you who love your dogs and want to bring them to the Market to feel free to do that at anytime except on Saturdays between the busy and congested hours of 9 and noon (i.e., dogs will be welcome during the initial hours of 7 to 9 a.m.). That way you can still enjoy the Market with your four legged-friend, and the folks who really are not comfortable with dogs will have the opportunity to shop in the environment that works best for them. Having your dog in the parking lot or the grassy area near Market is fine anytime, and we do need you to keep them on a very short leash at all times.

We regret that we have to address this at all, and we have put much thought and discussion into how best to handle the feedback that we have received. It is the one thing that we hear about most consistently and passionately, and we do want to do everything we can to provide a pleasant shopping environment for all of our customers.

Thank you all for your cooperation and help in making the Market a great community place for everyone!