Pets in stores (slight rant)

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While its nice that people enjoyed your dog, it is important to know that there are many who do not.

While Lowes has a corporate pet-friendly policy, Home Depot does not. They have explicit “no pets” signs on their doors. However, this is not followed–much to my irritation when I buy a load of lumber and have someones errant ankle bitter dive under my large cart.
 
This just wouldn’t happen in the UK, you can’t take dogs into food shops at all (except for assistance animals, and you rarely see that).

However, sometimes you have a dog that just can’t cope with being away from you. We have 3 dogs, one’s a Chihuahua and she cries if she thinks she’s going to be left. We take her everywhere - but we still have to leave her in the car sometimes for short periods.
 
Why not a business card sized certificate of service that the owner can easily carry in their wallet to prove the dog is a service animal?
 
Exactly. I haven’t owned a dog in years. Why? Not for lack of wanting one. Because I don’t have a big enough yard - the proper means to care for it, when I am gone, for example. I think a lot of people have dogs but aren’t really well-informed about the best way to manage care of the dog, and they don’t always have the means/situation to care for the dog in terms of space, housing. At least most parents admit they are clueless at first - not so much with dog owners. Taking your dog on errands such as the grocery store is like taking your kid to a New Years Eve party or a hiking expedition or trek around the world. Care for the animal or baby as appropriate…that is what I believe. It is not just for the good of the dog but others as well.
 
JanetF said:
Why not a business card sized certificate of service that the owner can easily carry in their wallet to prove the dog is a service animal?
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Because in order for that to work we’d have to have someone deciding who did and did not qualify for a service animal, and it already takes too long to get one.
 
I won’t debate the appropriateness of bringing a dog in, but I can share my experience with you so you may be able to have some empathy for the situation. It may be easier to swallow, then.

My dad is an old man. He has physical limitations and lives each day in pain, but he is ambulatory. He is a good man who has lived a good life. But he is nearing the end of his life. This is because he is really old. He knows it. It depresses him and causes him anxiety. He has a small dog and his day is improved many times over when he can bring the dog with him. It is little enough to sit in the shopping cart. It yips once in a while. And if you look at my beautiful dad, regardless of what is going on, you might mistake the expression on his face as being nasty. He can be smiling, but because he has wrinkles and the effects of gravity from the last 80 plus years, he looks like he is frowning. And yet, he gets up every morning and takes care of his needs, and even does his own grocery shopping by himself. I guess what I am trying to say is that, although he technically doesn’t need a service dog, his small dog IS his service dog. Please remember that things may not always be as they seem. If you look close enough, sometimes they are exactly what you see. A little dog in a shopping cart is really no skin off your back. Of course large dogs that come up and sniff you are a different story. They encroach on your personal space. That isn’t OK unless you are OK with it.
 
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My friend, welcome to the culture of self-serving entitlement!

And if you don’t agree, they can do everything to look at you dirty to call you a nazi which gives them the academic-given right to punch you!
 
I like pets too, but you need to be responsible with them. If you bring them in the store or don’t put them on a leash during walks then you’re endangering both your pets and other people.

If your dog decides to bite someone for no reason, or if someone is allergic to dander, then it could result in an innocent person being hurt or worse.
 
But wouldn’t the service animal itself have a special tag or something that says that it’s a trained service animal? A number of years ago I saw a number of pups all training to be service animals. They had little vests that said Service dog in training.

They were all golden retrievers and just cute cute pups!

🐶
 
F_Marturana said:
But wouldn’t the service animal itself have a special tag or something that says that it’s a trained service animal? A number of years ago I saw a number of pups all training to be service animals. They had little vests that said Service dog in training.
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It’s not legally required, although a lot of people do it. But there’s no actual regulation on those vests - someone with a service dog doesn’t have to buy a vest or tag at all. Those vests can be bought off amazon, too, there’s no check on who’s buying them.
 
I’m sorry to be taking to so long to get back to this reply, but do you have a reliable source for this about Home Depot? From what I’ve been able to find, it looks like Home Depot is mostly pet friendly but leaves the decision on policy up to the individual stores. If you have an official source, though, I’d surely like to be aware of it.
 
All stores are issued the same sitcker to place on all doors. This includes the “no pet” policy. That said, corporate doesn’t enforce this on stores that have people who want to break the rules. Mostly because they have the sign so have no legal lability but then also have no social fallout.
 
That makes some sense—that they may have an official rule for legal purposes but not all stores enforce it. However, I’m still wondering what your source of information is, because I’ve found what should be fairly reliable sources (like ABC News Philadelphia) saying otherwise. I remember when I first looked for info on Home Depot in 2014 in the interest of finding places to socialize my collie puppy. The internet consensus was that dog owners should call their local HD first, which I did, and I was told that dogs were welcome on a leash. And indeed, the staff and customers were very friendly (and treat-bearing) towards my dogs.

So, if you have a more definitive source of information on Home Depot’s policy, I’d like to know.
 
AbideWithMe said:
That makes some sense—that they may have an official rule for legal purposes but not all stores enforce it. However, I’m still wondering what your source of information is, because I’ve found what should be fairly reliable sources (like ABC News Philadelphia) saying otherwise. I remember when I first looked for info on Home Depot in 2014 in the interest of finding places to socialize my collie puppy. The internet consensus was that dog owners should call their local HD first, which I did, and I was told that dogs were welcome on a leash. And indeed, the staff and customers were very friendly (and treat-bearing) towards my dogs.

So, if you have a more definitive source of information on Home Depot’s policy, I’d like to know.
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This is on all the doors. I verified with corporate that this sticker is issued to all stores. I don’t have a photo myself, but here’s one from Canada.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Nevermind, found the US version(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
I work in a small grocery store. I hate when customers bring their animals into the shop. Dogs usually. I quite like dogs. But they belong outside. Not sticking their snout into the bags of chips.

I’ve said it to the owner but she doesn’t want to put customers out by making them leave their pets outside. It really annoys me though.
 
I work for a Major Retailer, and the only thing I was taught was that legally the only thing I could ask was “Is this a service animal?” Thing is, I’ve seen many people bring in dogs on leashes with no other identification, and dogs in purses or backpacks. These people could say “this is my emotional support dog” or something, and it could be a total lie–or worse, “get offended” that I asked and complain to my store managers. I think it makes bonafide service dogs, the ones with vests id’ing them as such, and their owners look bad. 😦
 
Ouiser said:
I work for a Major Retailer, and the only thing I was taught was that legally the only thing I could ask was “Is this a service animal?” Thing is, I’ve seen many people bring in dogs on leashes with no other identification, and dogs in purses or backpacks. These people could say “this is my emotional support dog” or something, and it could be a total lie–or worse, “get offended” that I asked and complain to my store managers. I think it makes bonafide service dogs, the ones with vests id’ing them as such, and their owners look bad. 😦
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No doubt.

I love service animals passionately. I think they do a great thing for people.

I vehemently oppose untrained "ESA"s and other non-trained animals in non-pet stores.

My toddler whose excitedly screaming “dog dog” has a right-and a need-to-be in the store. The lady’s snarling small dog that barked at her antics had no business to be there. And for all those who defend the dog saying that it could be a service animal. No, no it could not. Service animals do NOT bark at children. Even small service dogs like carn terriers. They don’t get a pass because they are little. They still obey the same code of conduct.

And, more importantly, they are LEASHED.
 
DS is the manager of the biggest grocery in town. The stories he can tell you about cleaning up after pets in the store would make you want to boil every can you buy.
 
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