Are Dogs Allowed in Walmart? (Not All Are Allowed)

Are you among the many people who consider their dogs the best possible companions? If so, I guarantee you'd be excited to take them wherever you go. Indeed, many businesses like boutiques and pet stores permit customers to bring in their pets, but are dogs allowed in Walmart? Read on to find out.

Do you intend to visit Walmart? If you and your dog are frequent shopping pals, you should check if your pet is permitted entry. It's no secret that Walmart is an excellent source for just about anything you might want, including supplies for your dog.

But are dogs allowed in Walmart? Walmart allows entry to "service dogs" only under the ADA policy as they understand their roles to customers. Before everything else, let's go through Walmart's ADA policy first to determine whether your dog qualifies as a service animal.

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Are Dogs Allowed in Walmart?

Pets of any kind, including dogs, cats, and birds, are not permitted inside Walmart, primarily due to health and safety regulations related to food hygiene. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food service codes state that pets are not permitted in establishments where food is prepared, such as eateries and groceries, due to potential contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration warns that bringing a pet inside a retail establishment like Walmart poses a health risk due to poor hygiene. Other concerns include that the dogs may be flea-infested or leave messes on the floor. Additionally, some clients may be allergic to or fearful of dogs, thus causing tension.

As we said earlier, only service dogs are allowed in Walmart. What is a service dog, and which type is allowed in Walmart? Read on.

Walmart's Pet Policy

If you want to bring your dog to a Walmart store, you must know this first. According to Walmart's policy, only service animals are permitted inside the store; though, some Walmart store's pet policy to welcome well-behaved dogs.

The store manager decides whether or not to allow dogs, considering issues such as state and federal regulations and customer whereabouts. Such stores have signs that explain how they treat pets and what rules dog owners must follow. Therefore, inquiring about the store's pet policy before bringing your dog is wise. But why are pets not allowed in Walmart? Here is what we found out.

What Is a Service Animal?

Have you ever wondered if your dog may be considered a service animal? A service dog is trained to execute duties for a handicapped person as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The dog's task(s) must directly relate to the individual's impairment. A service dog is taught to help a diabetic person, for instance. The dog is taught to sense and sound an alarm if the owner's blood sugar level drops too low or rises too high.

In another case, a person with epilepsy should have a service dog that alerts them if they are about to have a seizure. If a seizure does happen, the dog can keep the owner safe. Are you concerned about the type of service dogs allowed into Walmart stores? Find out below.

What Are The Types Of Service Dogs Allowed Into Walmart?

Walmart allows customers to bring their service dogs inside. The group includes dogs that have been licensed to help people with impairments or health issues. They include:

1. Medical Alert Service Dogs:

A service dog that alerts people of a health issue is called a medical alert dog. These dogs are trained and can sense when their human companion is about to pass out, their blood sugar is plummeting, or they are having a stroke. They are used to alert anyone around their owners, who can call for help if necessary.

2. Regular Service Dogs:

The vast majority of service dogs are trained to aid their disabled owners. The dogs in this category are trained to assist their owners in any way that will allow them to maintain their independence and safety in the community.

People who are blind, deaf, physically disabled, or otherwise need assistance may bring service animals into Walmart stores. Now, if you have any of the pre-mentioned conditions and have a dog that keeps you safe, you can bring it to Walmart. But how will Walmart verify that it's a service dog? Keep reading.

How Does Walmart Identify Service Dogs

Managers and staff at Walmart are permitted by the Americans with Disabilities Act to inquire about the nature of any dog brought into the store. Nonetheless, neither employees nor managers can request medical documents to verify a handicap.

However, they are allowed to inquire about the specific duties of the dog. From a different angle, many service dogs have distinctive identification "brightly colored" dog tags, vests, or leashes that are visible and known to employees and managers. These types of identification are mandated by law in some places, such as California. But what about emotional support and therapy dogs, are they allowed in Walmart? Let's find out below by reading on.

Are Emotional Support And Therapy Dogs Allowed In Walmart?

NO! A service dog differs from a comfort, therapy, companion, or emotional support animal. Emotional support animals lack the necessary expertise to assist someone with a disability in any way. This means that the store cannot allow them since the ADA does not recognize them as service animals.

According to local legislation, several states let emotional support animals accompany their owners in public spaces. Therefore, you should ask your local Walmart if they permit customers to bring their emotional support animals inside. But what if you brought your dog to Walmart, unaware of its policy? What do you do?

Where Do You Leave Your Non-Service Dog At Walmart?

If you brought your dog along, there's no problem leaving Fido tied up outside while you walk into Walmart (or any other store with a no-dog policy). However, remember that it's not good for your dog if you leave it alone for a long time. Predicting how the weather or passers-by will influence your dog is impossible.

If you want to go shopping at Walmart, leaving your dog at home is the best option (unless your dog is a service animal, you can bring it along). With all that said, what are the procedures for ensuring safety while bringing your service dog along to Walmart?

Safety Measures Bringing Dogs to Walmart

If you bring your service animal to Walmart, follow these guidelines to ensure the comfort and safety of other customers and your dog. Some examples of such regulations are:

Always have your dog under control by keeping it on a leash.
Please do not leave your dog unsupervised outside the store, nor should you tie it up there.
Make sure that your dog is well-behaved and under control at all times.
If your dog is ill or acting aggressively, you should not bring it to Walmart.
If your dog has an accident, you should clean up after it.

If you have wondered," Are dogs allowed in Walmart," that's all you need to comprehend.

Conclusion

Would you prefer your dog to come with you while shopping at Walmart? According to Walmart's official policy, only service animals are permitted inside the stores. There is no consistent Walmart pet policy, with some locations welcoming well-behaved dog companions.

However, asking about Walmart's pet policy is recommended if you intend to bring your dog there. Nevertheless, following the guidelines and protecting the safety of other customers and your dog is crucial if local Walmart permits consumers to bring their dogs into the store. Are dogs allowed in Walmart; now you know!