My husband takes our (special needs) dog literally everywhere. He's a big dog so he is noticed. His absence is noted even more. The tellers at the bank on Friday were at a loss when they saw DH's car pull into the drive through, but no Andy's head sticking out of the back seat window, ready for his treat. They had the biscuit jar out and open for him.
ALL of DH's conversations, when he is out without the dog, begin from the other side with "where's Andy?"
I will, however, now watch myself so that I don't say the "where's the baby?" to anyone, since it now seems a little rude in light of this thread. I usually ask because I'm genuinely interested, but I can see how that might come across as 1) accusatory or 2) no longer recognizing you as a person before you were a parent.