Personally, I don’t mind seeing pets in malls for as long as they are looked after constantly by their owners. We have a Japanese Spitz and he’s a great companion for me and my whole family. Though, we don't bring him to the mall or any public place, we do bring him along when we take a vacation. I’d book an Airbnb place that specifically allows pets. And even so, I don’t abuse that privilege and we clean after our pet and treat the place like it was our own.

Pretentious is such a strong word. I can’t fault you if you haven't experienced the bond that develops between the master and his/her pet. Just saying... when pet owners say that their pets are like family, it’s usually not an exaggeration.