As of 17 August, Telenor will make 98 of its shops dog-friendly. This means that customers can take their four-legged companions with them when they want to visit a Telenor shop. Under the process, every shop where it is not regulated otherwise by local rules (e.g. in shopping malls) will be qualified as dog-friendly. This means that nearly three out of four Telenor shops across Hungary will be open to dogs in the future. Two out of three dog-friendly shops will be in regional towns and cities as based on the database of the website Kutyabarát.hu, most dog-friendly shops are now located in Budapest while they are still scarce in the countryside.
In addition to making the lives of dog owners easier, the company’s initiative can also save lives. “It is still not common knowledge that you shouldn’t leave your dog tied up in a public place because this may even cause an accident – if they get frightened or run away. You shouldn’t leave your dog locked in your car even for 5 minutes, because overheating may kill them in a short time. We are pleased to see the increasing number of dog-friendly shops all over Hungary. They encourage customers not to leave their dogs alone and offer a very practical solution, as you can walk your dog and run your daily errands at the same time”, said dr. Hajnalka Sziládi-Kovács, founder of Kutyabarát.hu, Hungary’s first portal established to promote dog-friendly places.
“Dog etiquette” – how to do shopping with your dog
Dog etiquette is an important aspect of safe shopping together. Both the dog and its owner need to adopt a responsible conduct. “In dog-friendly shops, you should abide by two basic rules: use a leash and take only a well-socialized dog in the customer area. You shouldn’t try how your dog behaves in such a situation for the first time when you enter a shop or a catering facility. First you should take your dog to a dog school and socialize them with other people. Remember that a dog’s behaviour is always the owner’s responsibility by which the entire dog owners’ community will be judged,” added dr. Hajnalka Sziládi-Kovács.
Telenor recognized the importance of dog-friendly initiatives a few years ago. “In 2018, our HQ in Törökbálint has become one of the first dog-friendly offices in Hungary. We also donated SIM cards to Vigyél Haza (Take Me Home) Foundation supporting the recovery of orphaned and injured dogs and improving their chances of adoption. As the latest step of this journey, we are making 75% of Telenor shops dog-friendly to make our customers’ everyday lives easier”, said Gergely Dolezsai, Brand and Marketing Communication Director of Telenor.
Every shop will offer a water bowl and a mat for pets. Dog-friendly shops will be marked with a window sticker and customers can also view the list of dog-friendly (or cat-friendly) shops on Telenor’s website . To keep their dogs safe even during the fireworks of 20 August, pet owners using the Track tariff can buy a Blaupunkt GS02 tracker that can be attached to their dog’s collar. The associated app enables them to keep an eye on the whereabouts of their dog any time.
For the list of dog-friendly shops and the pet owners’ policy developed with the support of Vigyél Haza Foundation please visit: https://www.telenor.hu/elerhetoseg/uzletkereso