Help..its an epidemic

So, tonight Joe and I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and we were walking through the store and we saw this GROWN WOMAN, like in her thirties holding this little mini dog under her arm like one of those glamour starlets would- puke. No more than 5 minutes later we saw a MAN about the same age not the same couple carrying a little weenie dog under his arm. Sheesh what is horrendous (did i spell that right) phenomenon? Help!