You may remember many of the advertising campaigns featuring Target’s mascot: Bullseye the English Bull Terrier. And, given the association between dogs and the brand, you might be wondering if dogs are allowed in Target and if your dog can accompany you on a shopping tour.
Is the target dog friendly?
Target stores have an extensive grocery section – so that means that pet dogs are NOT allowed into Target stores, just as they are not allowed in your local grocery store.
When asked if the stores are dog-friendly, Target shared on Twitter, “Only service animals are allowed in our store.”
We have a solution below if you’re running errands with your dog and need to pick up something at Target!
Why aren’t dogs allowed in target stores?
Target does not allow dogs (non-service dogs) in the store due to health regulations. (This is also why dogs are only allowed in outdoor patio restaurantnot in the restaurant.)
Grocery stores are regulated by state and local governments. Surprisingly, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states:
Examples of Food businesses that are NOT regulated by the FDA:
- Food retail establishments (i.e. grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, and food carts), regulated by state and local governments.
- farmers market
Instead, state law prohibits the entry of pet dogs into grocery stores.
But I’ve seen dogs in my local Target store!
Have you ever seen a dog at Target on one of your shopping trips? There are three possibilities:
first. The dog you are seeing is a service dog.
Service dogs are allowed in Target stores and other public places as required Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been specifically trained to work or perform duties for people with disabilities. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.
Remember: you can’t always tell which dog is a service dog. Service dogs can include Diabetic Alert Dogs, Epilepsy Warning Dogs, Hearing Dogs and many more.
service dog is Not required to wear any kind of harness, vest, or tag–-so the dog is not always working. What you think is a pet dog being carried around a Target may be a diabetes alert dog trained to detect changes in its owner’s breathing that indicate a drop in blood sugar.
2. The dog you are seeing is a service dog being trained.
Service dogs in training may or may not be allowed into a Target store because of service dog rules. in training implemented by the states.
For example, in Texas, law states, “A service animal in training may not be denied entry to any public facility when accompanied by an approved trainer.”
However, that’s not the case in every state – so know your rights before entering a store with a service dog in training.
3. The owner of the dog you are seeing is breaking the law.
If your dog is not a trained service dog (or a service dog in training, in some states), DO NOT try to misrepresent your dog as a service dog. If you do, you are breaking the law. Depending on where you live, misrepresent your dog as a service dog can be fined up to $1000.
Can I bring a support dog in Target?
Emotional support dogs don’t have the same rights as service dogs – but the ADA notes that Different states may handle this in different ways. According to their website:
Are support, therapy, comfort, or emotional companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?
No. These terms are used to describe animals that are comfortable around humans. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some State or local governments have laws that allow people to bring emotional support animals to public places. You can check with your State and local government agencies to learn about these laws.
There you have it: check State law to find out if your dog supports your mental health qualified under the protection of a service dog.
What if I need to pick up something at Target while out with my dog?
If you need to run in Target while out with your dog, the best thing to do is walk the dog home then head to your shopping.
Please NEVER leave your dog alone in the car. The The temperature can soar to the point of death even on seemingly mild days. (And don’t forget that there’s always a risk dognapping when you are in the store.)
Along with home delivery of some items, you can also choose pick up goods at Target–and select Drive Up to receive Target purchases from your car. According to the Target website, “Place an order on Target.com to Receive the order, then use the Target app to switch to Drive Up when ready.”
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