I was always under the impression that CA was more "dog friendly" then VA.. I've seen people bring their dogs to Home Depot and Lowe's. I also saw couple people bring a smaller breed (full size poodle) to Walmart. Thought that was bit much... The dog was just placed in the cart and not in a carrier or stroller. I saw couple people give the couple dirty looks. :(

I think as long as your dog's well behaved and I guess don't potty in the store, they don't mind it.

I was told that dogs are usually welcome as long as it is a store that does NOT have food stocked. Walmart does not allow dogs here in Houston....at least not at the one out here by me. Lowes and Home Depot have never been a problem...

I've heard that too but have been ran out of "non food" store plenty of times. I guess it depends on the owner/manager. IDK.

They don't mind at tractor supply here either. We where out one day (me, my parents, and Callie) and my dad needed some stuff from tractor supply so he just scoped Callie up and carried her in a put her in the front of the cart where you can put a baby a nobody said anything put how cute she was lol.

Yes it really does depend on management. The Home Depot near our old home had a sign (hidden FYI) near the door that said no pets. Yet, on a leash, Kaji was always welcomed by the employees. Out by our new home, Kaji is welcome at Coldstones as long as he's in my arms, not touching anything.

Lowes(at least around here) has a no pet policy. I know that because my friends wife worked there and he was complaining about someone bringing their dog in the store. I guess I can understand it somewhat because someone with a bigger dog can't pick them up...and then what happens when their dog craps or pees on the floor in the store? ?? At Petco and Petsmart, they have cleaning stations. At other stores, they do not...and most people aren't going to be responsible enough to bring along the proper cleaning supplies to clean up after their pet...Heck, even at places like petco, where there are cleaning supplies, people STILL leave it.


On the other hand, I don't see what the big deal is if I have my dog confined to a stroller or a purse. It's not going to make a mess on anything and if they do, it will be on my stuff....so what's the problem??

I think it really depends on the store more than anything...and how animal friendly the people are who work and shop in that store. If customers complain about the pet being in there, the store is probably going to ask for the pet to leave....if nobody says anything, they may just ignore it.

MI is definitely more conservative when it comes to pets in pubic than other areas of the country. CA and NYC seem to be much more liberal. People are finally starting to get with the program here. I still get stared at constantly because my dogs wear clothes and they ride in a stroller or my purse....but it's not NEARLY as bad as it used to be.

I remember a thread not too long ago, where someone mentioned that in NYC, everyone would know you had a dog if you carried it in the Louis Vuitton dog purse. In MI, there are lots of people who have never even seen a real Louis Vuitton...let alone that you can buy a purse to put your dog in!! LOL!!