Dog in Walmart
 

I just got back from getting groceries at our local Walmart. I was walking in the cereal aisle and looked over and saw a woman pushing a shopping cart with a dog bed in it. Inside the dog bed was a s**th Hu (sp). The dog was sitting peacefully inside the bed and not making a noise but it was sitting nose to nose with a package of chicken breast along with other groceries. People were watching her and you could see them talking and shaking their heads.

I just happened upon an Asst. Mgr. and asked her if Walmart lets dogs in their grocery side of the store and she surprised me with her answer. She said Walmart can't ask a person if the dog is a service dog or the dog doesn't have to wear any kind of a service dog harness. She said when she worked in New Mexico she heard of people bringing in minature horses and even a monkey as long as the animal was a service animal.

I am a dog lover and take Macy where I can but I'm not sure how I feel about people just bringing in animals to a grocery store. If the dog was a service animal I think the animal should wear some kind of identification. If a dog is wearing a service animal harness you pretty much know not to try to touch or pet the dog, if they aren't wearing a vest I would think they are a pet. What do you think? Is this nation wide or just the state of Illinois?

im sorry but there are some humans i wish werent allowed in the grocery store. lol so for me if i could bring them in their bag i would.

I think they should have to wear a vest or something. I also dont see anything wrong with a grocery store having to ask someone if they are a service animal especially if they dont have a vest on. I think there are regular people that know that they cant ask if they are a service animal and they are taking advantage of tthe situation

I would rather have my dog with me in a store than some people, who I know have not bathed in days or maybe weeks! Some "people" smell so bad that you need to hurry by them! I know my yorkies are cleaner and healthier than those type of people! Personally I wouldn't have a problem with pets in any stores as long as they are properly leashed and under control! :)

Some stores recognize ESA animals granted by law they do not have too and there is nothing ESA animals wear you just have an ID card.
I have to be honest and say that when traveling back and forth between Fl and Tn alone with Guinness I have carried him into Walmarts because I refuse to leave him in the car and made sure I had his ESA card on me since Walmarts always seem to recognize their support.

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.

There is always a mini horse in my Walmart that I have to fight myself to not run up and huge and what makes it cuter is the owner is a little person :p

:thumbup: my thoughts exactly. :eek:

I agree! :)

A Wal-Mart employee told us the same thing in FL, plus added that "only a Manager can ask a customer to remove the dog" from the store.

It makes sense because asking about the service dog status 'alludes' to asking a customer if they have a medical, mental and/or emotional condition.

We take Brody and Mia, and their Shih Tzu (pronounced phonetically like "sheed zoo") friend who we sometimes puppy sit, into a lot of stores with us. We ask before we enter any store we have not taken them into before, they stay in our cart on their own special pad...to protect their paws from the cart, and never touch the floor...to protect them from eating or wearing anything we disapprove of, or anything we do not buy.

They attract a lot of attention from customers who usually think more highly of the store after seeing our Yorkies there. The staff pet them and coo over them...some stores offer treats (which mine never seem to like...lol) and people even follow us into the stores to see them. We can barely get from one end of Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or TJ Max due to 'petting' requests...and 'the kids' and the customers and staff LOVE IT!!!

Back in 'the day' when all stores allowed pets inside, I took my little Yorkie-Poo everywhere with me. I saw many other people bring their fur babies, always small dogs, etc., into all kinds of stores including supermarkets. It was wonderful for me as a kid...and my sisters...because we got to see beautiful babies like Apricot Toy Poodles, etc., that we would never have been able to see otherwise in our tiny town, and the owners were happy to teach us about their breed. Plus, the fur babies had a wealth of socialization. There was no harm then and we all survived it.

We also had larger dogs...'shedders'...lol...that you would not think of carrying around 'like a baby'...they were never taken into any stores...only the 'carry-on' fur babies went every where with us. :p

Irresponsible pet owners have ruined a lot of 'privileges' for responsible pet owners...sadly.

Yeah I think it should be a rule that the dogs be clearly identified. I don't personally agree with dogs in a supermarket unless absolutely necessary, you may have a clean dog, but we know most people are not shining examples of dog ownership. I would love to take Milo in the market sometimes while I am running errands, but I know that means everyone else would be able to as well, and I love a remarkably clean market, so no way. Wonder why you can get your car towed for parking in a handicap spot when your car is not clearly identified, even if you happen to have a handicap, but the same market can't ask you to identify purpose of your dog?

I just don't want animals around food I am about to buy. Yuck.

The Walmart manager also told me it is the store's responsiblity to clean up after any service animal. Would hate to go down an aisle and see a mini horse doing it's business or a monkey taste testing the bananas.

that must be new, because when My Prada was a puppy I had her in a dog purse and the manager asked me to leave the store, that is the walmart is Sucassuna, NJ, I have never tried to bring any of my dogs there. I seen a guide dog there once.
so i think it depends on the area and the manager.
hugs,

I cannot imagine having a service animal and being questioned every time I entered a business. Think of how that would feel... Being accosted all the time. I appreciate that they trust people only bring in service animals. Food is packaged, it's not like the animals are walking all over your chicken breast at the grocery store. It's no different than a child in my opinion except service animals are not running around touching things with their grubby little hands :p

LOL. I can so picture both of these!

I've seen dogs at both the Wal-marts I shop at here in San Antonio. Both times I asked the owners if they had ever been asked to leave and one owner (a young girl) said she had never been told anything. The second owner (a mature woman) gave me the spiel about her dog being a service dog and by law Wal-mart could not question it. Her dog was not wearing a vest, but she said she did have one for him, he had just outgrown it :) In both cases the dogs were sitting very well-behaved in the shopping carts. I don't have a problem with it.

Jeanie,

Once I was at the grocery store shopping in the meat department and I saw a service dog licking some whole chickens in the meat case. LOL The dog had on his vest and his owner obviously had a sight impairment. I had to giggle to myself because I thought nothing could distract a dog while "working" but I guess raw chicken was too much for him. He was licking the plastic it was in. But ever since then I pick meat/chicken from the way back or up high. :)

:mad: oh that is like when people in parking lots feel their need to question me about my handicap tag and is it really mine blah blah blah

I must admit. Bentley's first day with me I needed to get a small kennel because his expen was too big for my bedroom. I didn't go in the grocery part though, but was just on the edge when I was at jewelry in Walmart. I think as long as they are not on the floor walking around non service dogs are ok in businesses. Plan on taking Bentley everywhere with us possible. However do draw the line at an actual grocery stores and restaurants. To me(in arms only) everything else is free game.

And yes I do agree there are plenty of dogs I rather be in the store with than many Walmart shoppers. lol

:eek: Now I know where those little white hairs on my chicken breast packages are coming from! :cool::eek::D

Totally agree!

A few years ago I was told I couldn't bring my dog in Walmart... However, sometimes I just put them in their bag and do it anyways but never the grocery side.

I do take Teeka into many stores when I am out and about. She always stays in my arms or the cart which I have a special seat cover to protect her from falling as it has a place to attach her harness to keep her safe. No one has ever asked me to leave and always comment on how cute she is! I do not take her to "food" places but wish I could! :)

I've never heard this before. I also understood that they can ask if it is a service dog, but may not ask what service the dog provides.

I saw a yorkie at the checkout in a Meijer store in Michigan. I talked to the woman who had the dog as I was in line right behind her. Hers was an "emotional support" dog....whatever that means.

A friend of mine used to work at Ralphs supermarket. She told me once that they cannot ask anyone if the dog they bring in is a service dog or not. There was a woman who went in once and my friend just commented on the dog being cute, not asking if he was a service dog, and she snapped "He's my seeing eye dog". It was a chihuahua. Come on now. But she said it was against the law to ask for proof, and the dog didn't wear any type of vest or tag.

Another time I was in a 99cent store and there was a lady with a pom in a vest. He tried to bite me as I walked by. I really doubt he was a real service animal. I've never seen one that misbehaved.

ESA is an emotional support animal for people that have mental issues and anxiety, Guinness is licensed and has his card.

The law is they can ask if its a service dog but they cannot ask what the disability is. Dogs are absolutely not allowed in our walmart unless they are service dogs. There are people who just say there dog is a service dog when there not just so they can take there dog anywhere and those people ruin it for the rest of us. Callie is a psychiatric service dog but I rarely take her places because a confrontation would probably send me into a panic attack.

Last night I went to jo anns with my small yorkie. I wasn't sure how it would go because I had been there before and they had ask a lady to remove her dog. But she was allowing the dog to lay in the cart with uncut fabric which would be placed back on the shelf. My dog was in her sling under my jacket but still visable if you tooka a second look. I think if there is a possibility of soiling the mecrchandise they should have a right to make the dog leave. Howevere I think most of us here have some common sense. I also agree that my dog is cleaner and better behaved than most adults and children.

I'm curious to see a list of stores people take their dog into?