Does Walmart allow dogs? [Pet Owners Guide!]
Walmart offers countless products at affordable prices, including everything your family might need for their everyday lives. This includes items such as dog food and leashes for members of your furrier family.
So, Walmart is a great place to stock up on your pooch, but does Walmart allow dogs? I checked the policies and did some research and here’s what I found.
Will Walmart allow dogs in 2022?
Unfortunately, according to Walmart store policies, dogs and other pets (cats, birds, rabbits, etc.) are not allowed in Walmart. However, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, service animals (excluding emotional support dogs) may accompany disabled owners in Walmart.
So, what are the laws and guidelines for bringing dogs into Walmart?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the policy on bringing dogs into Walmart stores.
Why doesn’t Walmart allow dogs?
Walmart does not allow dogs and other pets, such as cats and birds, primarily due to food hygiene and safety concerns.
This has to do with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food service regulations, which state that pets are kept out of places where food is prepared, including grocery stores and restaurants, where they could become contaminated.
According to the FDA, bringing animals into stores like Walmart is unsanitary and poses health risks.
There are other reasons why Walmart doesn’t allow dogs. For example, some customers may be allergic or afraid of dogs, while others may have fleas or make a mess of the floor!
Why does Walmart allow service dogs?
Walmart allows service dogs in its stores because the company recognizes the important role they must play in the lives of many vulnerable people who may need the assistance of a service dog to perform important daily tasks.
Plus, service dogs tend to be better trained and better behaved than most people’s pets. Therefore, it is generally considered safer to allow them in the store than to allow all dogs.
What counts as a service dog?
Walmart uses ADA guidelines to define a “service dog” as a dog that has been individually trained to perform everyday tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks each dog performs must be directly related to the disability or disability of its owner to be classified as a service animal.
Do Walmart allow all service dogs?
Yes! According to ADA and FDA regulations, all service dogs are allowed in Walmart. However, there are some caveats.
For example, if a service dog is deemed a threat to the health and safety of a store, a Walmart employee or manager has the authority to ask owners and their animals to leave and keep them away indefinitely.
Can Walmart ask if your dog is a service dog?
Under the ADA, Walmart employees and managers have the right to ask people who bring dogs into the store if they are service dogs.
They can also ask exactly what functions and tasks the dog performs, although these are the only two types of inquiries allowed. Employees and managers are not permitted to request documentation of any disability.
However, many service dogs wear brightly colored dog tags, jackets or leashes, making it easier for employees and managers to see if a dog is actually a service animal.
In states like California, these forms of identification are a legal requirement.
What are the rules for bringing service dogs into Walmart?
You can take your service dog to Walmart, but you have to make sure they are well behaved! There are certain rules.
First of all, the owner must control the dog at all times, and cannot allow the dog to wander around or bark. This dog also cannot be walked around the store in a stroller or stroller, so don’t treat Baxter like your child!
Service dogs are also not allowed in areas of the store used for food preparation, according to FDA regulations. And, if a particular Walmart store or manager wants to designate other areas in the store as dog-free, they can do so.
Does Walmart Allow Emotional Support Dogs?
No, Walmart does not allow emotional support dogs as they are not defined as service animals according to ADA guidelines. This has to do with the functions that emotional support animals perform for their owners.
Emotional support animals provide comfort to people with mental health problems and help alleviate their symptoms.
While these animals will be registered by a licensed professional like service dogs, the fact that they don’t perform actual day-to-day tasks that their owners need assistance with means they aren’t technically service animals.
Are dogs allowed in any grocery stores?
According to FDA guidelines, no, you cannot bring dogs into any grocery store in the US unless they are service animals.
But while you’ll have to leave your dog behind while shopping at places like Walmart, Costco, and Target, you can take your dog to other stores!
Pet stores are (unsurprisingly) generally dog-friendly, as are some home improvement stores, boutiques and even the Apple Store.
Basically, there are a lot of stores you can take your dog to that don’t prepare or sell food. Look out for any “No Dog” signs before you enter.
Is it okay to leave your dog outside Walmart?
If you have to go to Walmart (or any other store with a no dog policy) then you can always keep your dog outside on a leash. But keep in mind that leaving your dog unattended for long periods of time can be dangerous for dogs.
You never know how the weather will affect your dog or who might walk past them. If you want to shop at Walmart, the best solution is to leave your dog at home, unless of course your dog is a service animal.
For all the pet lovers out there, you might also be wondering if Walmart sells live fish. Also, if you want to visit other stores, you can read Costco Pet Policy, Target Pet Policy, Dollar General Pet Policy, and Walgreens Pet Policy.
in conclusion
Yes, Walmart and other grocery stores allow dogs. But the longer answer is that only service dogs are really allowed to accompany store owners, as the FDA and ADA state that pet dogs pose a risk to health, safety, and sanitation, especially in food preparation areas.
If you do bring your service dog into a Walmart, be aware that employees may ask you what you need it to do, or leave the store if your dog is misbehaving.
