Health Department says Cody, the store Labrador, must go

The St Petersburg Times ^ | Dec 03, 2009 | Dominick Tao

[Daffynition]

Cody, a chocolate Labrador, has for months greeted customers at the Clearwater BP gas station and convenience store at U.S. 19 and Nursery Road. A St. Petersburg Times story introduced thousands more to the jovial pup.

But Thursday morning, a state health inspector stopped by and issued a warning to Karim Mansour, the store's owner: Remove the dog or the Health Department would declare all of Mansour's food products — mostly bottled sodas, Slim Jims and candy bars — unfit for consumption.

Mansour, who adopted 6-year-old Cody three years ago, had no choice but sign the warning. His primary violation: "prohibited animals present in a food establishment."

Mansour said he will leave Cody at home by Friday, but will try to find a way for his companion to stay.

"There's no way one of my dog's hairs are going to get into a bag of Doritos," he said.

The state's move against Cody disappointed his customers.

"People in the store hearing what was going on kind of made a little protest," Mansour said.

Readers commenting on the original Times story had predicted the authorities might act.

"The Health Department will be all over this soon, watch," wrote one reader.

Another responded: "I don't think the Health Dept. is worried about a Dog in A Gas Station (The WORD IS GAS STATION), It's not like the dog is serving fresh salad."

Unfortunately for Mansour and Cody, the Health Department did show up — although it wasn't the first time.

Mansour said that in November, his usual health inspector stopped by and gave the dog a pass, as the store serves only prepackaged food.

But this time, the health inspector's supervisor accompanied him and laid down the law.

"It was a nice gimmick. I like dogs, too, but it's not up to me. You're not allowed to have the dog here," Mansour recalled the supervisor telling him.

According to the Food and Drug Administration's food code, live animals may be allowed in stores in certain situations, provided that food contamination cannot result.

One such circumstance: "In areas that are not used for food preparation, storage, sales, display or dining, in which there are caged animals or animals that are similarly confined."

Whether that means a dog is allowed to sit with cigarette cartons behind a convenience store counter is something Mansour said he plans to sort out.

[goat granny]

My dog Pepper saw that picture and I had to give her a valium to settle her down....She has to stay away from my computer now when Daffy is on the loose..

[goat granny]

My lab won't fetch either, she'll run to where the toy lays after I throw it, she smells it and comes back and says "Yep its laying there, where's my food" Like Daffy says she hates getting her feet wet, won't go out to pee during or after rain, I have to drag her (all 80 pounds), won't go into my daughters pond past her knee's, she's a good watch dog, she watches everyone that comes in the house and wags her tail, hoping for a treat. But she is a great face washer, will lick the skin off you if you let her...but such a love and has such a sweet spirit..

We do love our labs don't we. Even if the dog doesn't hunt..