Does anyone know when/why it became okay to take your dogs to the mall?

Today at the local shopping mall, a woman strolled by with two smallish dogs on leashes. This never used to happen. When did it become acceptable to just take our dogs with us into places full of other people, children, food being served, etc.? I thought this was actually illegal in most places.

I’m sure the dogs are nice enough, but… well… they’re dogs. They could have an accident. They could get startled and bite someone. Who knows what…

And even in places where it’s specifically posted not to being animals, people just ignore it and do it anyway. What started all this? Paris Hilton and her little doglet in a purse…?