Are Dogs Allowed In Walmart In 2023? (Not So Pet Friendly)
As an experienced ecommerce seller who relies on major retailers like Walmart for sourcing inventory and supplies, I fully understand the challenges of navigating pet policies for service dogs. While Walmart limits pets, they do accommodate service dogs as required by law. Here‘s what sellers need to know about bringing dogs in-store:
Why General Pets Are Restricted
Walmart outright bans pets like dogs, cats and rabbits in their over 5,000 stores nationwide. And as a fellow seller, I recognize the rationale behind limiting unrestrained animals, namely:
Food contamination hazards – Per FDA regulations, pets can‘t access any food prep areas. Loose hair or waste could easily contaminate merchandise.
Customer health concerns – Dog allergies impact up to 20% of the population. Additionally, 1 in 10 Americans have an actual clinical phobia of dogs.
Safety risks – Dog bites send 1,000 people to the ER per day on average. I appreciate Walmart mitigating this public safety threat.
Sanitation challenges – From experience, cleaning pet urine or feces off floors takes associates away from other tasks.
Store damage – Untrained dogs may knock over displays or merchandise when excited. More than their tail can sweep off shelves!
I fully support restricting pets for food safety and sanitation reasons as a seller. But service dogs are a different story.
Service Dogs: Critical Tools, Not Pets
Though everyday dogs don‘t belong, service dogs are highly trained medical equipment for the disabled, not pets.
In fact, over 90,000 Americans rely on service dogs daily for independence and to complete basic tasks most take for granted.
These dogs allow disabled individuals to fully participate in society. For me as a seller, my service dog enables accessing stores that sustain my livelihood.
That‘s why the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees my service dog access rights nationwide. Service dogs literally change lives.
ADA Rules on Service Dog Access
The ADA permits service dogs to accompany disabled handlers anywhere the general public can go. For me, this essential access includes all retailers like Walmart.
Specifically, the ADA defines my service dog as more than a pet – it‘s a working medical device tasked with assisting my disability.
Under the ADA, employees at stores like Walmart may only ask me two questions if my dog‘s purpose is unclear:
- Is the dog a service animal required for a disability?
- What work or task is the dog trained to perform?
No paperwork or proof can be requested – the law sides with disabled Americans and their service dogs once these questions are answered affirmatively.
In my experience as a seller, knowing ADA service dog laws is crucial to advocating for my rights as a shopper when needed.
Walmart Service Dog Policies
Walmart welcomes service dogs assisting disabled shoppers like myself. However, I still must follow proper handling etiquette:
- My dog must remain on a leash under my control at all times
- She cannot interact with merchandise or other customers unless assisting me
- Excessive barking is understandably prohibited
- I carry waste bags to immediately clean any accidents
- Per FDA guidelines, my dog stays out of food prep areas
Additionally, individual Walmart locations can impose reasonable restrictions, like avoiding toy aisles where kids may swarm my working dog.
Above all, I ensure my highly trained service dog is on her best behavior when we shop Walmart for my ecommerce business. A model canine helps protect access rights.
Supporting Retail Access as Sellers
As fellow sellers, we can support service dog handlers like myself through appropriate retail practices:
- Educate staff on ADA service dog rights – I recommend utilizing free ADA National Network resources
- Train for proper interaction with service teams in-store
- Advocate for service dog access by contacting legislators on any restrictive bills
- Speak up when witnessing handlers denied access rights
While restrictions on pets are understandable, excluding legitimate service dogs results in lost sales and antitrust lawsuits – situations we want to avoid as retailers.
Embracing policies that welcome service dogs at Walmart and beyond benefits our businesses and disabled shoppers alike through inclusion.
Pet-Friendly Shopping Options
For sellers accompanied by pets rather than service dogs, many retailers happily accommodate dogs on leashes:
| Store | Pet Policy |
|---|---|
| Target | Leashed pets welcome, except in food service areas |
| Lowe‘s | Dogs on leashes allowed, some locations have Yappy Hours |
| Apple Store | Frequently see dogs accompanying owners |
| Michael‘s | Leashed dogs able to join crafters |
| JOANN Fabrics | Pet crafters welcome with leashed dogs |
Check locally too – boutiques and smaller chains tend to be very pet-friendly.
As sellers, we can earn customer loyalty by welcoming four-legged shoppers. But limiting unrestrained pets at certain retailers like Walmart does make sense for their business model.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, service dogs like mine aren‘t pets – they‘re highly trained medical equipment protected by federal law. While pets can reasonably be restricted for safety and sanitation concerns, legitimate service dogs must be accommodated.
Denying access rights for disabled shoppers means lost sales and lawsuits. That‘s why as an ecommerce seller, I advocate for policies supporting service dog teams in every retailer.
But when I‘m not wearing my service dog handler hat, I completely understand prohibiting pets as a business owner myself. Fortunately, sellers and pet owners alike have options like pet-friendly stores.
The key is balancing access rights with realistic policies. With compassion on both sides, retailers like Walmart and disabled handlers can coexist successfully.
