On Sept. 24, I had just adopted a small Pomeranian dog from the shelter. She is elderly and had 6 teeth pulled. She is in need of a special dog food in which I knew that Publix carries several brands and bite sizes. I entered the parking lot at approximately 7:00 pm and because the temperature in my vehicle registered at 86 degrees, I had no intention of leaving her in that horrid heat, locked inside of the car. I would have left it running, but I do not have air conditioning available. I took her inside with me and put her into a shopping cart. There are NO signs posted that pets are not allowed. I had two items in which to purchase. I began to walk down the bread aisle when I was approached by Rose Wilson, midway in the aisle. She bluntly told me that dogs are not allowed in the store. I said that I only needed to get two items and I explained to her that I could not leave the dog in my car as it was very hot and the circumstances of why I brought her in with me. She loudly declared, the dog is not allowed in here due to health reasons, that she needs to leave. As I pushed the cart ahead a bit, she grabbed my shopping cart and brought it to a halt. I took the dog out of the cart and I said to her, Florida law allows dogs into restaurants, why aren't they allowed in the grocery stores. She said, they are not allowed in restaurants. I told her that they passed a law a year or so ago and dogs certainly are allowed in restaurants. She again, told me that the dog is not allowed in the store. As I still stood by the cart, I asked her if she would watch the dog so that I could get it some food and she boldly, declined that she would not. She asked me what food I wanted, that they would go get it for me. At that time, I was not sure what kind as I have never purchased a specialty food for her. I had taken the dog out of the shopping cart and put her in my arms. I went to walk around Ms. Wilson and she blocked me with her body so that I could not continue in the aisle. She told me to leave with the dog. As I turned towards and faced the other end of the aisle, she took the shopping cart and followed me to the exit.

While I was escorted towards the front door, I stopped and looked at the large bags of dog food on the shelf by the exit. It was then that I told her that I would like "this bag". She called Ashley over to take the bag to the register. I began to follow Ashley so that I could pay for it. Ms. Wilson had brought the shopping cart to this situation. As I began to go forward to the register, she shoved the cart to block me and I nearly walked into it. I stopped and looked at her and I said that I need to pay for it. She said that Ashley would ring it up. When you view the video, please be assured that the customers came to a stop and all were watching this situation. This was the final straw. How in the world was I to pay for the dog food? Did she really think that I would just hand over my card to her? I said, I'm leaving, in which I did. As I began my exit, I heard her holler at "someone" to get this cart cleaned down, immediately!. I was extremely embarrassed. She treated me as if I had done some serious obscene, horrible thing in the store.

This whole scenario was handled unprofessionally and I was to say the least, very embarrassed through out this experience. There were neighbors of mine who saw the entire mess which transpired at the front of the store.

I ended up feeding the dog, hot dogs because I could not obtain food for her and she is on a low-salt diet.

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