Pets in the Shop

Back when I was with Boss#1, there was a four foot columbian boa in a tank in the corner. He didn't know how to care for it so I had to buy it all new lights and substrate and of course I was the only one who would feed it....etc The problem was, many people have acute phobias to snakes. Usually the snake wouldn't even be visible but as soon as they were informed on the tank's contents, they'd run out of the shop. And I do mean run. Between the two stations, Boss#1 wanted to cut a hole and place a second tank. This one would contain a tarantula big enough to eat sparrows. That was the plan, anyway. I don't think he ever went through with it. As if the snake wasn't bad enough, now he had to freak out the other half of the clients with a giant spider staring at them as they were getting tattooed. Do any of you have pets in your shops? I always thought it was a little...odd. Are they similar, phobia provoking animals or are they more along the lines of fish and parrots? (Oddly enough, big parrots scare the hell out of me)

as a customer, i've only noticed pets at one shop - turtles in a tank. Birds seem pretty germy to me.. I'd be a little put off by seeing them in a shop. Though they may be far away from everything else, it just wouldn't "click" with the "sterile, safe, clean, antiseptic" environment I look for.

Tanked animals separate from the "work area". I don't see a major problem, but I would be double checking their shop procedures. Caged or animals in a more exposed enviroment might be a different story.(Would have to make a judgement call). Got no problem with fish personally(actually I like them, koi make a nice accent), but wouldn't have them at a shop.

Where I am the law says NO ANIMALS PERIOD!! And I agree with that law 100%