The world’s largest retailer by revenue, Walmart has more than 10,000 stores in two dozen countries. Whether you’re running in to pick up a prescription, shop for outdoor furniture, or buy groceries, you may be wondering: is it allowed to bring dogs into Walmart?
The answer is no – pet dogs are not allowed in Walmart stores.
Why Not Allow Dogs in Walmart?
Walmart has a pet policy on its website:
“Walmart welcomes ADA-defined service animals in our stores, and we recognize the important role they play in the lives of many of our customers. We do not allow pets in our store.”
Walmart — and any other U.S. grocery store — does not allow dogs (except service dogs) in the store due to health regulations.
This is also why dogs are only allowed in outdoor courtyard restaurantNot inside the restaurant.
What if I need to go to Walmart while I’m out?
If you need to go to Walmart while out with your dog, the best thing you can do is walk your dog home then tend to shop.
Please NEVER leave your dog alone in the car. Temperatures can soar to the point of death even on seemingly mild days. (And don’t forget that there’s always a risk dognapping while you are in the store.)
You have the option to pick up and deliver from Walmart in many regions – as well as order online.
But I’ve seen dogs in Walmart…
OK, you say, you’ve seen the dogs in the Walmart. What is the deal?
While there may be some stores that make occasional exceptions, the policy states that pet dogs – in other words, dogs that are not trained service dogs – are not allowed in the stores. Walmart store.
But don’t forget: you can’t always tell which dog is a service dog.
Follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been specifically trained to do work or perform duties for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.
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 it’s not always obvious that a dog is active.
If your dog is not a trained service dog, do not try to misrepresent your dog as a service dog. Depending on where you live, misrepresent your dog as a service dog may be fined up to $1000.
In Texas, the law states: “Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 437, Section 437.023 requires a food establishment to permit persons with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the establishment that are not regular customers are allowed.”
However, under Texas law, the store has the right to ask the person with a service dog two questions:
“If a person’s disability status is unclear, for the purposes of admission to a public facility with service animals, facility employees or managers may inquire about:
(1) whether a service animal is required because of the person’s disability
(2) the type of work or task for which the service animal is trained to perform. “
Can I bring a support dog in Walmart?
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. Their website notes:
Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?
No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort when around a person. 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 into public places. You can check with your State and local government agencies to learn about these laws.
You’ve got it: check with your state and local authorities to see if your emotional support dog qualifies for protection by a service dog.
Be sure to check out our list of Over 100 dog-friendly stores for places you might be able to shop with your dog in your home city.
Pin it to remember Can I bring my dog in Walmart?
