Waccamaw Market Cooperative Pet Policy: Effective May 2011

For the safety and comfort of all of our customers, we request that all customers follow these general policies with dogs:

• Dogs must be kept on short leash at all times.
• Be responsible and remove any waste that you pet leaves in any market space. Please see market manager for assistance if needed.
• Keep your pet from coming in contact with any merchandise that may be displayed at floor level.
• Limit the access that you pet has to other pets that may be in the market. If you have reservations about such contact, please leave your pet at home.

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 market 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 Markets to be a welcoming and pleasant places 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.

Conway Farmers Market

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. We would however ask that dogs not be walked through the main market area. Please ask a market manager or other market volunteer to look after your leashed pet while you shop.  Having your dog in the area adjacent the market 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.

Loris Farmers Market

Given the open air nature of Loris’s Market, pet’s are welcome at all times. As with other markets, we would ask that all pets be kept on a short leash in close proximity to other people and especially food items that may suit your pet’s pallet. Likewise please be responsible and remove any waste that your pet deposits in any space within or adjacent to the market.

North Myrtle Beach Market

Given the open air nature of the NMB  Market, pet’s are welcome at all times. As with other markets, we would ask that all pets be kept on a short leash in close proximity to other people and especially food items that may suit your pet’s pallet. Likewise please be responsible and remove any waste that your pet deposits in any space within or adjacent to the market.

Thank you all for your cooperation and help in making our Markets great community places for everyone!