Taking my pet to stores?

Question

If i have a doggie purse and carry my dog in it, can i take her to stores with me or will i get in trouble. ie. walmart and stores like that

Answer 1

The law is specific about this across the board. Generally, as long as the store does NOT sell prepared food items or have a deli or other food section, you can take your dog in with you.

You do not need to keep him in a purse or bag, mine rides in the handbag section of the shopping cart on a flat pillow that I take in with me. Although my dog is a small one, I understand that Lowes and Home Depot allow dogs of any size.

And, not all service animals have to be professionally trained. There are a growing number of people with hearing defects or graduating levels of hearing loss that count on a dog to do their hearing for them. Any dog can do that.

Having said that, it only takes one inconsiderate person to ruin it for everyone. If you take your dog into a store, your dog should be well mannered, calm around strangers and unusual sounds, housetrained and obedient. Never let your dog run loose or be on "voice command" in a populated area like a warehouse.

Never give your dog an instant to sniff products for himself - unless you are buying that specific product. Your dog isn't choosing the items. There are still a great many people who are allergic to animals, so be considerate and respectful.

Again, the only exception to the rule are places that serve food - and grocery stores.

Service dogs DO NOT have to be marked or carry any kind of identification indicating they are service animals. It is considered rude to ask a person with a service animal what his disability is. Not all disabilities requiring a service animal are obvious.

Answer 2

Well then you better buy from a crap breeder or a pet shop as neither really give a damn about finding the RIGHT home for the pets they sell. I can tell you right your average good breeder is going to want the SAME information as the shelter doges. Why? To avoid putting the pups they have worked HARD to produce into the wrong homes. if you rent of course they are going to want landlord information because they want to make sure you aren't trying to sneak a dog into an apartment when your lease says NO DOGS or a dog that is eliminated by size or breed/mix. Previous pets - they want to know how responsible you are. someone who has pets dying all the time or has a habit of getting rid of their dogs is not going to be a good home. Work info - make sure you can actually afford the damn dog. believe me a good breeder is going to want to know that and more. Have you owned the breed before? what are you looking for(pet work show etc)? Do you have certain preferences for color, gender etc things of that nature. Good breeders are NEVER going to just take your money and hand you a pup nor are they going to let you just pick a pup at random. You bought from a crap breeder what do you expect? Second ALL puppies whine when you first get them pretty much. Also no one can guarantee adult weight. NO ONE. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of ****. Why? Because THREE things affect weight. The first is genetics. The second and third are on you - diet and exercise.

Answer 3

Well dont try this at Target cause I did this very thing and I was asked to leave and was told by the person that asked me to leave that it was a USDA rule and that was a lie . I called the toll free number at the USDA and they said that was a lie and they were going to call the target corp and tell them to stop saying that. Well anyway I left and will never spend another dime in target ever . I will however go to walmart as i have been in there several times with him and he has never been asked to leave . He is a 3 lb chihuahua and is in a tote and never yippy or barky . He is the perfect gentleman . But in all fairness some people do have animal allergies and they may be allergic and in that case if they say something i will leave the store of my own accord . good luck .

Answer 4

I'm thinking it depends on who's at the front door. Some of those WalMart door people are pretty serious about their job, others have a sense of humor. The worse they can do is tell you no, then you just have to take the dog back to the car and leave it. You were going to have it confined anyway to your purse, so what's the difference? I say give it a try.

Answer 5

I believe most chain store and departments stores---and any store that sells food---have a "no dog" policy. The only dogs they allow are service animals.

If you bring one into the store you could be asked to leave. If you do it more than once or are difficult when they ask you to go, you can be banned from the store.

And, yes, they can legally ban you from their store. It is a private company and it is private property and the company can decide to ban someone who breaks their rules from going in the store.

I love dogs but I can understand that some folks are afraid of them and others are allergic and that's why they don't allow them. Why not leave the dog at home unless you are going to a pet store which allows them?

Answer 6

Stores usually don't allow pets unless you can prove you need them with you (ie seeing eye dog) because of health and safety reasons. For example, if a dog was allowed in a store and someone in the store is severely allergic and has a bad reaction, the store could be held liable for allowing the dog inside.

Answer 7

Most often, stores will only allow guide dogs for the blind--they can go anywhere, as can the ones you may see now and then wearing a green coat with the words imprinted: "Guide dog in Training". PLUS, you would be taking a chance of a small child wanting to see the doggie, and your dog may nip this child, and here we go---lawsuit! I would NOT do this.

Answer 8

Well I tried taking my pug Molley into Wal-Mart (I was carry her under my coat). Molley was sick and I was on the way home from the vet. I did not want to leave her out in the car.

They would not let me in the store with her, but told me I could sit on the bench.

However I worked in an independent retail store, and a woman came in walking her medium size dog. I asked the owner what to do about it since it was a high end clothing store, and he said "let the dog be".

We were able one time to bring Molley with us into a cafeteria run by church one time.

I think you would do better with independent stores then with the chain stores.

Answer 9

It's soooo gross and inconsiderate to take your dog to public places. For lots of reasons. Not to sound like a parent, but think about it: What if everyone did? What if people carried purses (kennels really) full of birds, lizards, turtles, pit bulls, ferrets, whatever. In essence they would be saying, the heck with everyone else, and the heck with the rules.

Folks have allergies. Some have serious allergies.

Just because your pet is hidden, you are breaking the rules. If you can, then everyone else should be allowed to also.

Answer 10

No, not walmart. They sell food there. Also, it's walmart, you know?
On the other hand, ladies with poodles walk right in at places like Neiman Marcus, Tiffany's, Cartier, etc.