Dog in Walmart

[Marhcarter]

I have taken Huey with me into a bunch of places where I'm sure dogs aren't allowed. I don't ask (ok, sometimes I do if he is spotted by someone as we enter) but I have never been asked to leave or to leave him in the car. I had him in the Bi-Lo (grocery store) one day in his purse carrier and I had him in the cart. No problems until a little girl-child said "hey, Mommy, she has a doggie". I shushed her and told her she was gonna get me in trouble, with a grin, of course. He has been in Steinmart (clothing store), not in a carrier, but I carried him the whole time & staff all shrugged when I asked for permission. He has been in several Walgreens. TG he is quiet inside places...he only nuts out barking in drive-thrus.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I think it is crazy that they can't ask for ID. And I think that it is crazy for any store to not let employees ask if it is a service animal.

I love my dogs to death. I'd like to take Ellie everywhere with me (school for sure!), It would brighten my day to see somebody's pet hanging in the dairy section with their owner. But if it is allowed, it will get out of control. So only small, clean dogs can come in? Discrimination. And I'd have a big problem with a big butt lickin dog sniffing my boxes of food. It is completely unecessary unless they are providing a service. .

Ewwww. Me, too. And some dogs, especially some big dogs, drool so - seriously drip thick ounces of saliva down to the floor or whatever is under their mouths and when they shake, it goes flying everywhere. On the produce or baked goods stacked in the little bins! And then there is the hair that flies off some of them! Even short-haired dogs can shed. Not near my food, okay? Just let them stay home unless you are blind or so otherwise disabled you have to have the dog.

[MishyMish]

Originally Posted by richards6402

I guess I was shocked that Walmart can't ask a person if the animal is a service animal because it's against the law and the animal doesn't have to wear any kind of special harness saying it's a service animal.

There must be a trainer of service dogs for the blind around here because I see these dogs in Walmart alot and they wear a special harness telling everyone they are a service animal and not to touch or talk to the dog because the dog is working.

it's not against the law to ask. That is just a store or company policy.

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

[B]
'This is a bomb sniffing Chihuahua and we want to check the pet section for hidden explosives!'

Great post and great way to handle the situation. I totally agree but just had to add that this last part... Thanks so much!! I needed this!!

[Adamsfly]

My situation is a little different, however, kind of the same response from a manager in Walmart - while waiting in line to check out, I saw a boy around the age of 10-12 take some of those baseball cards that they have hanging by the check out line and put into his pocket. I told the manager and they said they couldn't do anything as an employee didn't see this and they can't ask him to empty his pocket.

[MandiesMom]

Again, the food is covered, packaged, and sealed. How is the dog (even if it has drool) going to hurt your food?

With that being said..and my previous post...I've never taken or even tried to take any of my dogs into a store other than PetSmart

[MXEditor]

I work at a law firm part-time and we have a client who has a service dog - she takes him everywhere and it's correct that you CANNOT demand proof and the dog does not have to be wearing anything.

You are not supposed to be asking what people's illness or disabilities are - that's private.

I have seen exceptions to this rule, such as airlines asking for a certificate but they are on shaky ground there. If you pushed the matter you would probably win.

I do believe it's the owner's responsibility to cleanup any pooping or peeing.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter, such as cute little Yorkies.

[MishyMish]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Again, the food is covered, packaged, and sealed. How is the dog (even if it has drool) going to hurt your food?

With that being said..and my previous post...I've never taken or even tried to take any of my dogs into a store other than PetSmart

IMHO people should be less worried about the dog licking it and more worried about what happened before it was package. Granted, I still don't want a dog licking the packaging.

[MXEditor]

Also, dogs that drool, bark, bite, growl, poop or pee while in service are probably not real service dogs. Real service dogs are not allowed to get certified when they exhibit those faults.

[MXEditor]

Originally Posted by MishyMish

it's not against the law to ask. That is just a store or company policy.

I believe it is not against the law to ask...but my understanding is that it may be against the law to demand it and/or deny service because of proof not being provided.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter, such as cute little Yorkies.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Again, the food is covered, packaged, and sealed. How is the dog (even if it has drool) going to hurt your food?

With that being said..and my previous post...I've never taken or even tried to take any of my dogs into a store other than PetSmart

Because it might touch my counters, it will touch my hands as I handle the package and when you are taking the food out of the package, a flap with drool or E. coli from a wagging tail on it could get on the food. If somehow that food gets missed, overlooked, not washed enough and served raw, such as raw celery or unskinned carrots, certain strains of E-coli can infect, sicken and even kill children and people - and your dogs. If you have EVER seen someone very ill in ICU with a case of that, going into shock and losing fluid faster from both ends than the nurses can squeeze it in, in and out of consciousness, with CVP and other lines running everywhere, you will understand. Some are even allergic to the bacterial toxin and go info anaphylactic shock from that. It happens but until it happens to you or someone you know, people don't think about it seriously. Why should people have to worry about having dog germs on their food anyway? Dogs don't belong in grocery stores unless they are service dogs.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Because it might touch my counters, it will touch my hands as I handle the package and when you are taking the food out of the package, a flap with drool or E. coli from a wagging tail on it could get on the food. If somehow that food gets missed, overlooked, not washed enough and served raw, such as raw celery or unskinned carrots, certain strains of E-coli can infect, sicken and even kill children and people - and your dogs. If you have EVER seen someone very ill in ICU with a case of that, going into shock and losing fluid faster from both ends than the nurses can squeeze it in, in and out of consciousness, with CVP and other lines running everywhere, you will understand. Some are even allergic to the bacterial toxin and go info anaphylactic shock from that. It happens but until it happens to you or someone you know, people don't think about it seriously. Why should people have to worry about having dog germs on their food anyway? Dogs don't belong in grocery stores unless they are service dogs.

I agree but its a hard sale on here for sure

[MishyMish]

Originally Posted by MXEditor

I believe it is not against the law to ask...but my understanding is that it may be against the law to demand it and/or deny service because of proof not being provided.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter, such as cute little Yorkies.

Yes, you actually can demand because one would say "Is that a service dog?" I don't see why anyone would choose not to answer and if they don't it is not illegal to ask that person to leave the dog outside because they have not verbally identified that the dog is a service animal. They can also go one step further and ask how that animal assists them and that is the maximum extent they can go. Anything else could be considered illegal.

[MishyMish]

I'm sorry, but some of you give the impression that you think packaged food is not contaminated and cleansed or something because it's neatly packaged in saran wrap. Ummm... no it's not.

Again... I would not want a dog licking the packaging though. However, the condition of meats and other products tend to be germ and bacteria infested with or without a dogs presence. I am assuming most people cook their food partially for this reason.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Even the dogs' paws and mouths/muzzles can have E. coli and other fecal contamination on them from walking in the yard where poop is, from sniffing/eating feces and then doggie puts his paws up on a food container, sniffs, licks it or a big dog touches his paw to an orange stacked up. Cross-contamination can occur, too, such as one contaminated food touching another. Just be sure, now that we know so many dogs are around our food in stores, wash, wash, wash, wash all produce and cook the rest. If anyone doubts dog fecal contamination exists and can cause serious health issues, none of them especially pleasant to the patient if he gets an especially virulent strain, then hemorrhagic diarrhea and is maybe already weakened from flu, anemia, cancer or respiratory illness, just google that phrase and see the yuck that comes up and the public health issue dog fecal contamination is known to be. It's another reason to be sure to pick up after your dog when he's out for a walk. Just sayin'.