Dogs are more and more like family to us. Why do some public places still bar them?

I have experienced anxiety and depression for years, and I’m one of the pet-owners Marx’s piece and those who share her sentiments take aim at: I’m an unmarried, childless millennial whose dog is at the center of her universe. When those inevitable days hit when getting out of bed is a battle, my dog Gus’s enthusiastic requests for food and a walk are sometimes the only things that motivate me to start the day. However, even when I’m not in the middle of a bout of anxiety, I still want him with me often when I go out in public. And I’m not the only one. For me and millions of Americans, discrimination against pets in public spaces reflects an antiquated conception of the role pets can play in people’s lives.