Could it be a sanitary issue? Or an issue of liability due to a dog bite? Seems to me that the Farmer's Market is just protecting themselves.

From their website:

New Pet Policy for Saturday & Wednesday Markets

Portland Farmers Market no longer permits shoppers to bring their dogs or other pets to its Saturday Market at PSU and Wednesday Market Downtown both located in the South Park Blocks.

The market has received repeated complaints from vendors and shoppers about dogs crowding the marketplace, relieving themselves, taking food, and potentially injuring customers. One patron had to be taken to the hospital after becoming tangled in a dog's leash.

The new pet rules are similar to those in place at farmers markets in Beaverton, Hillsdale, Seattle and San Francisco.

The pet policy applies only to our two busiest farmers markets. Pets are permitted at Thursday Eastbank farmers market, the Thursday market at Ecotrust, and the new Sunday King Market. All markets remain open to service dogs.

I think it is awesome!
I have long been disgusted by PDXers sence of entitlement in bringing their dogs anywhere they go.
It is unsanitary even for the best behaved dog. There are health concerns, who knows who might be allergic.
And it is no fun for the dog to constantly have to dodge stepping feet in crowds of people.
I have seen more than one dog fight at Saturday Market, and the owners are always SO surprised at their dog's behavior, or at least blames the other dog for starting it.
This is definitely the farmers market that I will be going to.

I agree with the ban as many people haven't the first clue in keeping a dog well behaved in a crowded situation. Even my well behaved and lovely dog goes a bit bonkers when put into situations where there are so many distractions and issues. Its can be very stressful for even the most mellow of dogs.

How can they even do this on Portland Park land?

Wow this is has been more revealing than I anticipated.
We should rename this tribe: PDX for dog haters.

But you know, I've often had the same thoughts in public places in portland
Like walking along as sidewalks or the river as I've been ran over by bike riders and run down by
joggers and runners. Its rough out there.

I guess we'll have have to rezone the whole city and separate the old from young, pets from people,
bikers from walkers...etc... LOL....


One good thing about being out and about with doggies is that people will actually stop talk with you on the street.
Complete strangers, stop pause for a moment in their busy life, stop to say to hello to you
and your doggie, or vise versa. Then they wish each other a beautiful day and smile and go about yours.
I think its more of a positive catalyst than a negative one in our community.

i would like the opportunity to shop without someone's dog pissing, sniffing, or possibly being unruly while i'm buying food.
i also would like some people to leave their small children at home, or control their behavior more.
there's a time and a place for most everything.
not a dog, or kid hater, just too many dog and kid owners don't take their responsibilities seriously.

I agree. It is manifestly unfair. If we can have fried pork, raw chicken, or beef jerky, why not dog? This seems ludicrous and unfair, if not manifestly racist! Don't they understand the original purpose of guinea pigs?

Snobbery to the max? Anti-Portland? Are you from Portland? I bet you're from someplace like Stockton and thought when you moved here you were actually getting Eugene. They are a little south.

I have two dogs. And a cat. I love my pets and spend a lot of time with them. They are major parts of my family and household experience. I take them camping and to public places, too. But I tell you, I hate going to public markets where people take their dogs. I find it pretty ridiculous, really. I particularly don't enjoy dogs wandering all over squatting or raising a leg to piss on things, or crap, and stick their nose in your crotch or into your food. They can be a real pain in the ass just to navigate. People on NW 23rd truly confound me. My bostons are adorable, smart, and a real fashion statement since others have noticed the charm of the breed and made them somewhat 'vogue'. But you won't catch me dressing Scout or Murphy in their best Lexi fashion to demonstrate my stylish Portland ways. It's a busy shopping street. Yet people with big (and small) freaking dogs and their tangly leashes are everywhere. WTF. It's a shopping area. Not a dog park. It's crowded! Be considerate, dog owners.

I find it somewhat amusing that you think it's snobbery to the max that others don't see it your way - that dogs should have the 'right' to be in crowded areas where food is sold. Why is your opinion Portland-representative (I was born here and am a lifetime native Oregonian) and snob-free?

I'm with Elaine on the Italy thing, too. What? No dog shit issues there? Hardly.

I just got back from 10 days in Mexico. Dogs are part of their daily life, in and out of areas serving good. Dog shit, fleas etc., are part of that. I sit down at an open air restaurant there and they beg at your table, on the beach, everywhere. I tend to be pretty tolerant of other cultures' right to choose, mine included, but my preference is, do something else with your dog, horse, goat, walrus, etc. Don't take it to an open air food market or crowd busy streets with your dogs that really aren't going to be emotionally damaged by being respectful of other humans. Not everyone wants a dog. Not everyone wants to have to walk around your dog or it's piss or pretend not to notice you cleaning up it's shit (or not) where they have to step over or around. Even if your dog is a perfect darling, and has perfect manners, I don't really want dogs all over public shopping areas.

Not to go off on another tangent too far but this reminds me of my sister's angry righteousness that she has the 'right' to walk her dog anywhere off leash. She views her dog no differently than she does her human friends. Meanwhile, her dog has no problem going up to say hi to other dogs, who are on leash. This doesn't always work. They are still animals, and not all animals react the same, in these instances. Same with children who are body language inexperienced and often carrying food, toys, etc. I hated it when righteous dog owners let their dogs visit my toddler without restraint, because I couldn't pick him up fast enough before their off leash dog got to him.

I've seen a ton of people at Portland Saturday market walking with dogs off leash, where the dog is free to wander to grab food from kids, snif in their faces, crowd people, visit dogs on leash who are perfectly fine within the owners boundaries but not ok with dogs crowding them, etc.

Portland Farmers Market doesn't suck. I'm glad they are banning dogs. I don't take Scout or Murphy shopping there for food anyway. My dogs can wait elsewhere while I grab what I want then go with me more appropriate places or wait at home or with friends.

I think it completely unfair, and rather snobby. Are we going to ban children from public places next? They are slobbery, they sneeze, they put every thing in their mouths, they pick up stuff left and right.
The farmers markets are run in public spaces, and I find it ludicrous that dogs have been banned from a public place. It is a short sighted solution to something that is a minor problem.
Then again I'm one of those Portlanders who thinks we should be able to take our dogs in just about anywhere. :D
I was equally as miffed at the ban of smoking in bars (and at the Pride festival grounds as well. grrrr)j Even though I quit smoking a while ago... I think what really gets me the most is the smugness of the anti-smokers. I've never met one who didn't have a high and mighty "holier than thou" attitude about it. This dog ban feels just the same.
(yes I know the smoking ban was passed for the employees sake. Erm, well if you don't like smoking, then why did you get a job at a bar? Go work somewhere else. I know, simplistic, but really. That's like going into the army and then getting confused when they hand you a gun. Uh, it's part of the program.)
I lived in Fairbanks AK for a while and got to take my dog into most of the bars, AND we could smoke in the bar, which was downright awesome.
Go ahead, pick apart my post and point out all of my wrongs, and why they are wrong. I'm used to it. Logical fallacy is my specialty it seems.