Spin-off: Are Pets Allowed in Stores?

[Clio]

I work at a Walmart and technically only service dogs are allowed but we can't ask if the dog is a service dog or not. We do have a woman who brings the dogs she's training as service dogs in with the store managers' permission and she will clean up after the puppies that have accidents. I wish we could ask because some of the others are not service animals.
Liz

 

[ronandannette]

I work at a Walmart and technically only service dogs are allowed but we can't ask if the dog is a service dog or not. We do have a woman who brings the dogs she's training as service dogs in with the store managers' permission and she will clean up after the puppies that have accidents. I wish we could ask because some of the others are not service animals.
Liz

Dogs peeing and pooping in WalMart? Sorry - that's just unacceptable.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I only feel comfortable taking my dog to a pet store. I did see a dog at my local garden center a few weeks ago. It was small enough that it was carried.

I understand not taking a pet into a store that sells food (grocery or restaurant) but if you have to run into a hardware store or home improvement store, I would rather a person take their dog with them than leave it in a hot car.

TC

 

[aprilgail2]

I understand not taking a pet into a store that sells food (grocery or restaurant) but if you have to run into a hardware store or home improvement store, I would rather a person take their dog with them than leave it in a hot car.

TC

I would rather they left them home where they belong.

 

[mamacatnv]

We take our dog to Tractor Supply, Home Depot, a local dog friendly outdoor mall, all pet stores and a few cafe's with outdoor seating. We don't do this because we can't stand to leave him alone, our boy came from a rescue, he is very timid and we are trying to socialize him. No grocery stores, or in the cart, our guy weighs 110#'s.

My Auntie is the type that cannot stand to leave her dog for more than a few minutes, she took her dog to the grocery store and anywhere else she could get away with it. Eventually the grocery manager told her dog was not welcome. I was at the mall with auntie and there were several people with small dogs in strollers, my Aunt just carries her dog and pretty much no one says much.

 

[minkydog]

I only feel comfortable taking my dog to a pet store. I did see a dog at my local garden center a few weeks ago. It was small enough that it was carried.

I understand not taking a pet into a store that sells food (grocery or restaurant) but if you have to run into a hardware store or home improvement store, I would rather a person take their dog with them than leave it in a hot car.

TC

I feel the same way. I recently had to carry my little Bichon into Rite Aid for a moment. I had been there on my way to pick him up from the groomer and left my credit card there. On the way back I had to go in and pick it up. It was 93 degrees outside and I didn't dare leave him in the car! Fortunately, they were understanding about it.

 

[momto2girls]

I would rather they left them home where they belong.

I have two dogs. If I had them in the car with me for some reason and I needed to pick something up from the hardware store, I would take them home and then come back. I really, really don't understand people who feel the need to take their dogs everywhere. (My father started doing this with the dog he's had for about a year. Although he just as often refuses to go anywhere because he doesn't want to leave the dog at home. I'm thinking that he must be going senile.)

We have two upscale malls in our area that did allow dogs, but they discontinued allowing it about a year ago. I never understood why they allowed it in the first place. I still see the occasional dog there though (usually the type that are stuffed in someone's purse) because apparently some people don't think that the new rules apply to them. I recently saw a salesperson at Macy's cleaning up a purse dog's "mess".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you are referring to me, I know that. It's too bad though that dogs are allowed in the cabin. I wouldn't want to sit by or hear someone's dog. You can also have a dog shipped down below, many people do it that way.

Thirty five pets died in cargo holds in 2011 alone, many on Delta. That number doesn't count those that were hurt or traumatized.

http://consumerist.com/2012/02/17/35-pets-died-on-airplanes-last-year-over-half-on-delta/

 

[Katelly]

I've seen a lot of people with small dogs in stores. The other day in Sephora I saw a woman with a pug in a baby carriage. I've also seen small dogs in grocery stores, craft stores, Bed, Bath and Beyond.....everywhere!

What would happen if folks with large dogs decided to bring them everywhere? Can you imagine if people with Great Danes, Boxers, Retrievers and other large breeds decided to bring their dogs out to stores?

Maybe that woman with a pug in a baby carriage would think twice about bringing her pet to Sephora if she knew there was a chance it would come face to face with a big dog who was also out shopping.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I haven't noticed this trend where I live. But if it is happening, my guess is that it is probably a reflection of our society becoming more "accepting" of things in general. Might as well get used to it.

 

[SLK1]

Anyone can claim any dog is a "therapy dog". You can say you have anxiety and the dog soothes it and store owners cannot deny you being there with your dog. We stayed at an upscale hotel over the weekend and someone brought their pet. Used to be they would wear a vest or something to signify they were in fact a seeing-eye dog, or something like that, but nowadays it must not be required. Just like when you go to Disney and you can claim just about anything to get out of waiting in line...they legally cannot ask for a medical note or anything.

 

[tvguy]

I work at a Walmart and technically only service dogs are allowed but we can't ask if the dog is a service dog or not. We do have a woman who brings the dogs she's training as service dogs in with the store managers' permission and she will clean up after the puppies that have accidents. I wish we could ask because some of the others are not service animals.
Liz

I have been seeing a lot more dogs in the grocery store. Not the usual seeing eye dogs, or puppies with the "Guide Dogs for the Blind in training" vest on them. What look like family pets. But you keyed in on the problem stores face, under ADA you can't even ASK for proof it is a service dog. And since there is no certification or licensing system in place to prove an animal is a necessary service animal, it really doesn't matter.

 

[goofy!]

I've seen a lot of people with small dogs in stores. The other day in Sephora I saw a woman with a pug in a baby carriage. I've also seen small dogs in grocery stores, craft stores, Bed, Bath and Beyond.....everywhere!

What would happen if folks with large dogs decided to bring them everywhere? Can you imagine if people with Great Danes, Boxers, Retrievers and other large breeds decided to bring their dogs out to stores?

Maybe that woman with a pug in a baby carriage would think twice about bringing her pet to Sephora if she knew there was a chance it would come face to face with a big dog who was also out shopping.

Here in the land of Dog Guardianship rather than Dog Ownership, I see more of the larger dogs like retrievers in stores rather than the little purse pups.

Since we are a health and outdoor oriented society, most people have dogs that go hiking or running with them. Then they head to the stores or local restaurants for lunch. It really is not uncommon to sit on a restaurant patio with numerous labs or similar size dogs on the patio with you.

Doesn't bother me because people also seem to regard proper training as vital. Doesn't hurt that I also love dogs.

 

[DVC-Don]

A couple of years ago here someone had a dog in a cart inside my local Lowe's and the dog bit a Lowe's employee that was helping the dogs owner.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

People in So Cal routinely bring their dogs into stores. I don't get it.They are usually in shopping carts or these silly dog strollers. I see dogs in grocery stores and malls, usually small breeds.

 

[mamacatnv]

I've seen a lot of people with small dogs in stores. The other day in Sephora I saw a woman with a pug in a baby carriage. I've also seen small dogs in grocery stores, craft stores, Bed, Bath and Beyond.....everywhere!

What would happen if folks with large dogs decided to bring them everywhere? Can you imagine if people with Great Danes, Boxers, Retrievers and other large breeds decided to bring their dogs out to stores?

Maybe that woman with a pug in a baby carriage would think twice about bringing her pet to Sephora if she knew there was a chance it would come face to face with a big dog who was also out shopping.

I'd prefer the large dogs on a leash any day over the small snappy, snarly, barking beasts in strollers and armpits

 

[Unas]

Store managers are turning a blind eye to it, not wanting to confront anyone and have them threaten lawsuit.

Back in the day, the only service animal was a seeing eye dog. I am not sure at what point "therapy dog" came into existence for people who can't function enough to even go shopping without their dog by their side.

(btw, I love dogs! Just not in grocery stores, restaurants or even hardware stores.....)

I work at a Walmart and technically only service dogs are allowed but we can't ask if the dog is a service dog or not. We do have a woman who brings the dogs she's training as service dogs in with the store managers' permission and she will clean up after the puppies that have accidents. I wish we could ask because some of the others are not service animals.
Liz

You can ask:
Is the dog a service dog required because of a disability?
What work or task is the dog trained to provide?

Note . . . "service dog," not therapy.

Dogs can be denied permission to enter, and even a legitimate service dog can be told to leave if not under control or if it "goes" in the establishment.

 

[aaarcher86]

Anyone can claim any dog is a "therapy dog". You can say you have anxiety and the dog soothes it and store owners cannot deny you being there with your dog. We stayed at an upscale hotel over the weekend and someone brought their pet. Used to be they would wear a vest or something to signify they were in fact a seeing-eye dog, or something like that, but nowadays it must not be required. Just like when you go to Disney and you can claim just about anything to get out of waiting in line...they legally cannot ask for a medical note or anything.

That's actually not accurate.

Saying something like that would qualify the dog as an emotional support animal. ESDs are NOT given the same rights as a service animal, including admission into stores. Unfortunately, not enough stores actually pursue it. But that's a huge misconception by the jerks that want to bring their pets everywhere.

A service dog needs to be trained to perform some kind of task.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Wouldn't it be better to see them in the carts than people leave them in hot cars??

 

[aaarcher86]

Wouldn't it be better to see them in the carts than people leave them in hot cars??

I didn't realize those were the only 2 options.

I'd rather see them left at home. I don't like the entitlement factor people seem to have about bringing their dogs places they shouldn't be.