My bottle raised goats are very well socialized and not in the least bit stressed going in stores. I have one little girl right now who'd load up to go for a ride everytime I opened the door if I'd let her. I, personally, would prefer my goats do lose their fear of dogs, nothing will set a dog off quicker then a goat running from them.
If I didn't feel I had control over my dogs in ALL situations, I wouldn't have them out in public, and that includes if we incounter a goat, chicken, horse, rabbit, etc. And I think anyone should feel that way. It's true not all do, however, I have encountered very few out of control dogs while out in stores, and in all cases the dogs were leashed or carried (most were little purse dogs) and the people managed to hold them until they got them outside (and not a one was in reaction to any animal other then another dog).
Think of this, Atwoods has rabbits, chicks, ducklings (prey animals), etc. in water troughs, an out of control dog could easily jump in and wipe them all out, but I've yet to hear of it happening. The year before last my baby Pot Bellied Pig went along w/ me for all my Christmas shopping. A few years ago I went to a pet festival, dogs EVERYWHERE, and they had a miniature horse, some baby goats, a porcupine, some pet rabbits on leashes, and other then a few minor incidences between two dogs, there were no problems!
PetSmart and
Petco are PET stores, I don't think it would be fair to exclude one kind of pet, or only allow one or two kinds, most likely (and other then my own that was in a carrier I've never seen a cat in
Petco) they will also have to ban cats, because you know not all dogs like cats, and I guess if someone doesn't control their dog it's all on the cat owner. And where would it stop? Once the only animal allowed are dogs weighing less then 20lbs?
As for why take your pet. Socialization is very important for pets, the more people, places, and things they meet the better, and having somewhere that allows them, like pet stores, is such a big help (the dog is not shopping). I like to take my dog anytime I can, she's a great traveler, she climbs in the back and goes to sleep, I can't tell you how many times I've almost forgotten I brought her. She may not even get out of the car depending on where we are going, I like to try and stop by Atwoods (I love shopping there), and like I said they ask about her if I don't bring her. She's perfectly well behaved, and I don't see her as something that needs watched/handled, the only down side to bringing her is all the people that stop me wanting to pet her. It is more work w/ a pup, but that's just one of the steps to having a well behaved dog, and very worth it in the end!
Every year out
Petco and Atwoods put on a Halloween contest, and there are a variety of animals that attend, I've not yet entered anything, but the last time I went to the one at Atwoods, they had a goat, some ducks, some horses, a donkey, and even some little monkeys. My poor dog (she wasn't entered, just watching) did get bit on the nose by a dog dressed like a skunk, but that's all I saw happen.
