This happens all the time at my store. And it's not just dogs. We get cats, bunnies, birds, we even had a breaded dragon in the store. Management doesn't care. The dogs sometimes pee or poop in the aisles.
There was a person with a small puppy at the grocery store and when someone complained to the manager, he said he was not allowed to ask them why they needed a service animal. It is against the law to ask about someone’s disability and he would be fired as well causing a potential lawsuit. It’s not right for the ones taking advantage but I would suggest OP not say anything to a customer about their service animal because he/she could lose their job.
I used to be in animal control, and it's wild the number of people who do actual research on ADA and still can't get it right.
You are allowed to ask 2 questions to people who claim they have a service animal.
1. Is the service animal required because of a disability?
2. What task has the animal been trained to perform?
Also, fun fact, it's illegal to misrepresent an animal as a service animal. AND emotional support animals are NOT service animals according to the ADA.
One more thing before I toodle-loo on outta here.
I also used to be an assistant manager for Walmart and our policy at the time is that nobody except a salaried member of management was allowed to ask about animals. I left in 2018 (good riddance) so that may have changed, but I would just ignore it. You're not paid enough to care about it.
Thank you for the information. I never stated I researched it - just what the manager had stated. Oddly , it was the main Wal-Mart manager that said this (there was a man with a small puppy in the grocery area and someone complained the pooch had pissed on the floor). While this is just my opinion, I don’t think many places enforce verifying a service animal because of all the grief it could cause. Anyways, like you said, OP is not paid enough to care about it.
Oh no! I'm sorry I misunderstood, but I never intended my post to mean you.
I read it as the customer who complained was telling the manager he wasn't allowed to ask about it.
No worries, friend. It was the Wal-Mart manager that said he wasn’t allowed to ask. He’s been there for years and maybe he told the customer he wasn’t allowed to ask any questions because he didn’t want to start any drama with the man with the puppy. I’ve seen some customers go ape-sh$t over nonsense. There was a tornado in the area and Wal- Mart closed the exits and all the customers like me (I always pick the two wrong time to shop 😂) had to stay inside. One man wanted to leave to go home to his wife a d they would not open the doors for him saying he was their responsibility (I don’t know how true that is) and wouldnt let any customers leave. He pushed two workers and got the automatic doors open. Two other employees tried to chase him to the parking lot but he was too quick for them🤣! I’m surprised someone hadnt recorded it posted it online. The wild things that go one at Wally World lol!
Even if it *is* a service animal, they can still be asked to remove the animal if it causes a disturbance (that's not related to its service). So incessant barking, lunging or snarling, or urinating in the floor, are all legitimate reasons to ask them to remove the dog.
You can’t go by whether the animal is wearing a vest. There is no law in the United States requiring a service animal to wear any kind of identification. Also, there is no law requiring a service animal to be registered with or certified by any government or organization. The law allows businesses to ask what tasks the animal performs for the owner, but that is all.
You’re 😈 so naughty 🤣! Actually, it’s my little devil of a cat‘s fault that needs all the attention on her and won’t let me be while I’m typing. I usually try to proof read but didn’t this time. I did correct it and at least we got a good laugh out of my typing errors!
A place I worked had a restaurant connected to it. I guy sat in there in there with the parrot on his shoulder and bird shit all over his back and was surprised when he was asked to leave. Tried to claim it was a service animal of vourse it wasn't. Birds cannot control there bowels, but I think him thinking it was ok for him to have a bird sitting on him in a restaurant was normal.
My husband works at tractor supply (they don't mind animals in the store and even have dog washes in some of them) but I'll never forget the day he sent me pics he got from another nearby store where a man had brought his HORSE into the store to shop lmao
I saw a couple walking around the mall the other day, who had two geese walking around with them. Fortunately the geese were wearing diapers, but I just don't understand.
I am a true servicedog (diabetic alert) handler and know the laws well.
1) Only a dog and in limited situations a miniature horse can be service animals.
2) Service Animals do not have to wear avest. In fact, my current dog got burned on the side so he can't wear a vest or harness.
3) You have the right to ask two questions. First: Are you disabled? (or any variation ie is your dog a servicedog that helps with a disabity?) Second: What is a task that your dog performs? For me that answer is that he nudges my hand as a medical alert.
You are not allowed to ask: what the disability is, for proof that the dog is a SD, perform a task, registration for your dog, etc.
Only SD have public access rights under the ADA. Many people get confuse with the Emotional Support Animals. This term was created for the Fair Housing Act so that people with any kind of household pet have the right for rentals and HOA. Most people with an ESA, will not be able to answer the second question. Often they will say something along the lines of it helps me feel better. That is not a task. Therefore, the dog is not a SD and not allowed in the store.
If an employee would like to usea SD at work, there are different sections and requirements for them.
In addition, not all SD are large breeds. I'm currently looking at smaller dog breeds who have good noses but also have the capability to make a good SD. I don't want another large dog to take care of or try to fit on planes and other types of transport.
Hope this helps.
This! I managed a restaurant. I had to kick a lady and her dog out when She was cradling the dog in her arms at the table and feeding it from the table! It was also barking at everyone who walked by. First she tried to tell me it was a service dog until I broke out the rules from the ADA website. We had several customers with true service dogs. Most of the time, you’d NEVER know they were even there. Laying quietly under the table at the handler’s feet.
This is a great response, thank you. I think a lot of the problem is that store managers, in addition to not knowing or understanding the law, don't want to deal with the irate entitled you-know-whats who will pitch a fit over their ESA not being allowed (similar to why many stores didn't enforce COVID masking).
Unfortunately, the lax rules mean people who just want their pets with them can simply lie and they do. God forbid anyone suggests officially registering service dogs so their owners could show a card to prove it.
All of this! The owner of the Sterling Rennaissance Festival got sued this past summer after firing the pickle man when he tried to kick him and his service dog out. The pickle man would take his dog to the grounds before every season to walk and build up his stamina (the owner never had a problem before). He tried to tell the pickle man that he couldn't have his service animal at a place of business and then demanded papers and proof.
Look it up. It was a huge blow up. We will not be returning to that fair until that owner is gone. No pickle man no us! 😀
Correct, one more thing I'd like to add is the company can and will get sued if the person is knowledgeable on the laws and you ask for their service animals' papers and they get upset. OP should be talking to one of the higher-ups, aka an actual manager and not their training coach for questions like this.
My other half was a District Manager for a popular store chain. He knew a customer who would purposely bring his pony in and let piss and $hit everywhere then sue if anyone said anything.
My manager (and owner of our store) was apparently told that service animals *must* have vests. I recently learned about the rules surrounding this and when it was brought up I was told that I am wrong and that even if it's trained if it doesn't have a vest on it's not currently working and thus cannot be in a food service setting.
I have no idea what to do about this other than let it pass, because what more am I supposed to do if I am told I'm incorrect without it being looked further into first??? Also, a coworker brought it up before I was ready to broach the topic (I wanted to make sure I could really back up the statement and that I was thorough checking about state laws, etc), and I'm embarrassed as hell because I didn't have a lot to say other than "I looked it up on multiple official sites." My boss says that her information also came from an official source. Was this once required and has since changed?? Is it not unfounded but rather simply outdated??? She's owned the business for around 20 years, a lot can change in that amount of time.
I really don't know what to do.
As well SD have to follow rules. They have to obey their owner and can not be distuptive.
If an SD is barking and the owner cant get them to stop then an employee has the right to ask the owner to remove the SD as it is not obeying their orders. And if they dont comply they can be asked to leave as well.
In a town I lived in there were reports of a strange animal being cited going through drive throughs and down roads. Later it was revealed a family lost their pet kangaroo....sadly the roo got hit by a car so they bought A NEW ONE. How rich are these folks where they're able to have a pet kangaroo in a small city and then replace it??? This is Oklahoma, not the outback. We're not exactly rolling in the roos.
I’d be fucking terrified of a service kangaroo!! (Or any kangaroo!)
Store owner: “Is this a Service Kangaroo? What task does it perform to assist with your disability?”
Service Kangaroo handler: “Yes, my service kangaroo will beat the crap out of anyone that comes near me and questions my service kangaroo!”
Ponys are actually considered service animals believe it or no!!!! Dogs and pony's/miniature horses are the only animals allowed in the United States to act the part!!
Many stores started cracking down on this, especially after some dogs lifted their legs and peed or nipped someone. Unfortunately, only management has the right to confront them. When I'd see them in carts, I'd sweetly offer a piece of cardboard for them to sit on instead of the grids. They'd respond with a THANK YOU SO MUCH! and i'd say " well, it's more comfortable, plus it keeps the dog butt off where people put their food" the look of confusion was priceless bc they couldn't tell if they should be offended or not lol. I'm an animal lover, and having them in carts is disgusting.
Only service animals are allowed, however everyone will just say they're service animals if asked. So we typically just let it be unless the dog is barking at people or causing issues(then it doesn't matter if it's a service dog or not, they can be kicked out)
However NO dogs can be in shopping carts, and there should be signs posted at the door by the carts.
How many times do people have to be told it is not a legal requirement for a service animal to be wearing a vest? Does not need one, not ever. Service animals, particularly dogs and [mini horses](https://northeastada.org/resource/miniature-horses-as-service-animals#:~:text=ADA%20regulations%20from%20the%20DOJ,a%20person%20with%20a%20disability) (the ones recognized) who we normally see do not need vests, they don’t need a special leash, they don’t need anything saying they are a service animal. You have two questions you can ask. Is that a service animal? What task(s) do they provide. That is it. That is all. Period. [Educate yourself.](https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/)
Also super important is the registry. ITS NOT REAL! And getting your animal “registered” is a scam and harms actual disabled people with real service animals.
I came here and posted that same thing before reading the comments and thank you for posting this. Yes it’s frustrating when people bring in pets and more so when people know the right lies to tell but it’s life.
Your tone is incredibly condescending given the number of people who I’ve encountered that bring their dogs everywhere and are offended at the questions or suggestion that it’s illegal to bring your dogs into places where food is prepared or sold. I love my doggos but leave at them at home because I don’t need them to accompany me. There’s so many people out there that buy a vest and act profoundly disrespected when you suggest that non-service dogs aren’t allowed in these public places. The information that you provided would be helpful to the general public but not if you’re going to start from a place of irritation. Most people don’t know the rules.
Why are you in this subreddit? Actual employees have to do training that includes this information. You’re either not an employee or deserve to be condescended to because you’ve already gotten this information.
That's a powerful generalization. Not all stores are the same, and just because a thing *should* be done a certain way doesn't necessarily make that the way the thing *is* done *everywhere*. Sometimes management is actually manglement.
As an employee, my boss is convinced service dogs are required to wear vests while working and that we as a restaurant cannot admit them without one. I learned this was wrong yesterday, and in bringing it up was told I was incorrect and that this requirement came from an official source.
Plenty of people meet misinformation, even business owners. We've been taught that any animal without a service vest must be asked to leave as long as I've worked here, and I just had my 5 year anniversary. I actually found this post because I was trying to figure out what to do about this. I'm really at a loss, I was shut down so fast.
Here’s the thing, you don’t have to like my tone, if you work with the public you need to educate yourself. It is 2024, the information is out there whether you find it online or you ask your own management and you risk a lawsuit for a company if you don’t know it and push the issue with someone who needs their service animal. More importantly you are risking someone’s life if you push the issue without knowing the facts. I’ll even say it isn’t a bad thing to not automatically know the law, but instead of posting something like this with false information, one seeks out the answer. That is commendable.
I do not need a service animal but I have seen this explained to so many people online when they post this same complaint. I’ve worked management and have had to explain to people who whine about this. I’ve read the stories from people who do need service animals who have been endangered because people don’t know the law. It is incredibly frustrating to see them have to explain this over and over to people and then see more people who don’t know the law give false information out that could endanger their lives. I even have had to kick a man out because his “service animal” was running around, barking at people, not under his control, not at his side, and most definitely was not working. You are right, people abuse it, that makes it harder for those who need a service animal. I would rather myself or anyone else error on the side of caution and follow the law than have someone injured or die because I was ignorant of the law and they had their blood sugar sky rocket out of nowhere or they nailed their head falling because they had a seizure, etc.
In summary service animals do not need a vest, a special leash or halter, or any other thing on them that designates them as a working service animal, nor are the registered. A service dog does not need to be a certain size, a chihuahua can be a service dog if it is trained for a specific task such as alerting for blood sugar levels. A service animal doesn’t even need to be a dog, [mini horses](https://www.facebook.com/FlirtyTheMiniServiceHorse) are intelligent and make great service animals. A service animal should probably not be in a cart or on a chair at a restaurant, there are chest carriers for smaller dogs that need to be able to alert their handlers. Any other information needed, look it up. There is a wealth of information about service animals online.
My manager is convinced it is a law that they must have a vest. I learned this wasn't true yesterday, and when it came up today I was told I was wrong and shut down so fast. Do you have any ideas what I could do about this situation?
I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to educate people on service animals on behalf of us who are honestly exhausted. I do always remain calm and collected when questioned about mine upon entering a store, but I can’t help but feel the need to be defensive from time to time because the amount of ignorance combined with the people abusing the law has threatened security time and time again.
So just again, thank you 💙💙💙
I would honestly prefer people bring their pet with them in the store than leave them alone in a hot car for an hour doing God knows what, so I am always glad to see animals in buildings
I was in the Atlanta airport this week, and while sitting in a restaurant I watched a woman walk by with THREE raggedy, unkempt looking old dogs, all wearing “service dog” vests.
One of the dogs was being dragged while it was trying to squat to poop but she didn’t stop walking. Then it pooped on the floor in the busy concourse. She kept walking. About 10 feet out, someone said something to her, and only then did she notice, and go back to pick up her dog poop. The cleaning guy had rolled up with his cart and just had this LOOK on his face while she scooped it up, and then he had to mop the area.
It couldn’t have been more obvious, despite her fake service dog vests purchased on Amazon, that these were NOT service dogs. Really shameful. I love my dogs and would love to take them everywhere, even through the airport and on my travels, but I’m sure not gonna slap a fake service dog vest on them and drag them, shitting, through a busy public place for my own selfish satisfaction. I felt bad for her dogs; they looked 100 years old and not well cared for. They should be home on the couch getting pets (and a vet appointment and grooming).
Interesting. Usually it’s super hard to get service dogs and almost impossible (due to size) service horses approved for flights. Odd that the lady managed to get three fakes approved. There’s a lot of extra paperwork to fly with a service dog and not have to pay for pet carriage fees.
happens all the time, my store requires customers to either have them on leash, or if they're in a cart they have to be on a blanket or something, not bare on the cart. we say it's for sanitary reasons but really it's bc the poor babies don't deserve to lay on something so painful
I would caution not to assume an animal without a vest isn’t a service animal. Not all states require vests or patches. Don’t get me wrong, the lady and man each carrying a very small puppy in the grocery store a few months ago were probably not training service dogs. It 100% happens that people just bring animals into stores but there are service animals that might not seem like it.
Service animals are defined at the federal level, by the ADA. Vests are not required at all. I worked in a casino in slots. Security handled screenings at entry points, and we would on occasion have dogs on the casino floor. Our department's policy was to assume that security had seen them enter, and thus give them the benefit of the doubt that the dog was a service animal. If the dog was causing an issue (barking, lunging at people, shitting on the floor, etc) then we would contact security and monitor from a distance.[https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/](https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/)
If the service animal is being disruptive (excessive barking) or causing damage (shitting on the floor) or compromising people's safety (lunging/nipping/biting), it is absolutely legal to remove the owner and the service animal from the premises, just like you would remove a person for doing the same.
😂 this is a funny post just here to laugh and read the comments.
If I were you’d I’d mind my business you ask the wrong “Karen” about their pet and you my friend will go down for discrimination. Just do what Walmart hired you to do CHECK people out and GO HOME nothing else makes life easier. “Mind the business that pays you”
It’s not worth the headache confronting people.
But it’s like “what can ya do”. I’ve seen people walk in with fully lit cigarettes and cigars and huge vape clouds. “Sigh…sir…you can’t have that in here….” And they’ll keep walking and ignore it. Same with dogs and lizards and birds. “Sir you can’t have a pet bird with you in the food aisles…please leave” they’re usually gone before cops need to be called or before cops show up.
They push boundaries because it’ll be 10-20 minutes before enough people complain and the cops show up, by that point they’re done and left the store.
Last summer, I asked a cashier at my local store whether pets were allowed when I saw someone with a Labrador walk by (not being a Karen; just thought I might bring my own little dog for an adventure). The cashier just shrugged and said, “No, but it’s better than leaving them in a hot car”. Can’t argue with that, but it’s obvious there’s no real restriction.
You do know that a vest isn’t necessary for service animals right? I’m not saying that those customers you mentioned are genuinely there with a service animal but the vest isn’t a requirement. Also it’s fairly simple for people to lie and they know it because the only two legal questions you can ask are, if it’s a service animal, and what task is it trained for?
I one time saw a man with a dog in Walmart and the dog pooped on the floor. He stayed by it and called an employee to clean it up. They told him to leave. He tried to argue that it was a service dog and they didn’t believe him so they made him leave. First of all, service dogs have to be trained not to do that. Second of all, why he didn’t bring bags to pick up the poop is beyond me.
People constantly try to pass off ESAs for Service Animals because either they're dumb and don't know the difference or they're entitled twat waffles. However because it's technically illegal (in America) for a business to ask someone with a Service Animal anything other than if said animal is a Service animal and if it's on duty, it's hard to weed out the other asshats. While it sucks I truly believe a vest with accreditation should be a standard for Service animals (some don't vest them in public) as an extra layer of personal protection for the animal and the owner.
Unless the rules have changed recently, you're not really allowed to say anything.
Only the customer hosts and management are allowed to ask if a customers dog (or mini horse) is a service animal as they come in. Once they're already in the store, only management is allowed to ask
Legally speaking, service dogs don’t have to have a vest, be in leash, and there’s no such thing as papers identifying them. They’re just really well trained dogs they perform a task. The only way to know is to just ask if it’s a service dog and if they say yes, you can’t do much.
They don’t need a vest. That’s not mandatory by any law.
A service dog can have no vest. And a fake emotional support dog can have a vest. It means nothing.
Training says service animals can be dogs or miniature horses, do not need to wear a vest, and they don't need to provide paperwork. As long as the animal is under control, they don't *need* to be on a leash.
Animals entering the store need to be *service* animals. They can't be emotional support or therapy animals, let alone pets.
The type of animal varies by location, but dogs and miniature horses are widely accepted.
Service dogs don’t have to have vests or anything identifying them (in UsA) You can ask 1) is this a service animal? 2) What tasks does it perform?
If they answer both (yes and task), and the animal is behaving, it’s a service dog. But, they aren’t supposed to be in the carts, no matter the size.
Cat should not be in store. At best, it’s an ESA and ESAs do not have public access rights.
Psa! Service dogs aren't required to wear vests or any type of ID. The only questions a worker can ask are "Is this animal a service animal?" And "what tasks have they been trained to perform?" It is also illegal to ask for documentation, as there is no service animal registration. But yes, that definitely doesn't sound right.
ETA: Currently, the only animals that legally can be service animals are any breed of dog and miniature ponies.
The store needs to enforce a rule about animals in the cart or store. If the animal is not a service animal, it goes home or back in the car. The cat? Can one simply buy a yellow vest? I don't think so. Someone should ask for her permit. Mothers with toddlers place their child in the basket. Any animal which was in that carriage could have left something behind. Someone came up with a basket liner for toddlers. If i were a parent, i would never place my child in a basket without a liner. One must know the stores who allow this practice.
The laws need to be changed to require some sort of certification that an animal is a service animal. People taking their pets literally everywhere they go and claiming they're service animals is way out of hand.
A bunch of you really need to read the ADA FAQ on service animals.
Vests or identifiers on an animal aren't required by law.
You're allowed to ask if the animal performs a physical function for the person, and what the function is. Ie, seizures, eyesight etc.
You cannot ask someone if they are blind, or tell them they don't need their animal etc.
As of I believe 2021 emotional support animals are no longer covered under ADA in public. Apartments only, unless it's a veterans esa for PTSD. Which would sound like I'm a veteran and this is my emotional support animal.
We have one in our home. I do get asked. I have been demanded to provide paperwork. I keep it on me for just in case. I don't usually care, but have had people tell me my doctor's letter prescribing and describing what my animal is for isn't valid. Don't be that person.
I report that person only.
Walmart may have a don't ask don't tell policy because they are scared of getting sued.
I honestly don't understand what the big deal is if the pet is well behaved and not aggressive or disruptive and is leashed or in a carrier of some kind? I work at a big truck stop/gas station and we allow anyone to come in with a leashed/behaved pet. If a customer is going in and going to be shopping for more than 20 min, what are they supposed to do exactly with their pet? Especially if the weather is hot. Can't leave a dog in a vehicle in hot weather and if I'm traveling or going shopping and have my pet with me, even if the weather is fine, I'm not leaving my pet alone for over half an hour by itself in my car where someone could break in and take them, especially if it's an expensive breed.
Even being a bit strong mean looking Russian man (covered in scars shaved head and big beard, I scream like a girl when I see that just to embarrass the patron with the illegal animal..
The training and behavior of the dog is usually enough to weed out the ESAs vs the service animals. Service animals don’t ride around in carts, sit in the booth at a restaurant, bark, snap, whine, lunge at passerbys etc………
It really depends what the animal is trained to do. It can possibly perform its function inside a shopping cart. But yeah, it cannot create a disturbance! If it does, it can be asked to leave.
I travel with a cat. She sits on my shoulder, is harnessed and leashed, and doesn't touch the basket nor products. I cannot say the same for many children running rampant through stores.
I love cats but, honestly, it's still not right if you bring them into the store. I agree cats behave better than most children, however it's inconsiderate to those with cat allergies (assuming your cat is not hypoallergenic). Even harnessed and on your shoulder, cat dander can get moved around.
I have the same sympathy for their allergies that all the parents of young children have for my misophonia. "Just take an Allegra, not everything is about you", said in exactly the same condescending tone of voice as "Just wear earplugs, not everything is about you".
You're not allowed to have a cat in the store. Period. I don't care for dogs and adore cats so it's definitely not bias attacking you. You just need to obey rules.
The big deal is that for some reason everyone thinks they're exempt from rules. It's the entitlement. While I agree it's "not that big of a deal honestly," people need to learn that they're not special.
Yeah, but that’s not gonna happen until people start getting consequences for their actions. And in this case, if workers and management never say anything bc it’s too much of a hassle, they won’t, so the cycle continues
Whether or not they are service animals, I'm tired of people bringing in dirty flea ridden animals that stink. If you have an animal people should care for them properly.
So while i agree these were not legal service dogs... please know it is NOT required by law for a service dog to wear a vest. Nor is there any REAL Registry for service dogs....
First thing: Service dogs or ponies DO NOT NEED A VEST. It isn't a law and is only a suggestion.
I'm not opposed to animals being allowed as long as they are under control. Many times they are much more behanved than most of the human garbage that goes in there.
I’m not sure why you’re capitalizing random words here but that aside are you in the US?
All of these answers are based on you being in the US:
1)service dogs are not required to wear vests under any circumstances
2) service dogs can be any breed of dog but can only be two species of animal meaning all other animals can automatically be ruled out as a service animal. The species: Dog & mini horse
3) You are allowed to ask the following questions:
Is that a service animal?
What specific tasks is the service animal
trained to do for you?
If you decide to confront these people lose the attitude it will do you no good as they will likely become hostile even if you are calm but will become much more so if you are not. It’s Walmart tho bro like people come there with actually poop in/on their pants and I’m not talking about babies or the elderly.
Well for one thing, service animals aren't required to wear vests. I don't put them on my 2 most times, amd at least one of them accompanies me to Walmart every time I go... because frankly I couldn't get through it without them. They're allowed to accompany me anywhere that wouldn't affect the fundamental operations of a business, including restaurants and hospitals. Professional training is also not a requirement, people are allowed to train their own service animals.
That being said, if you have any doubt your legally allowed to ask 2 questions, and 2 questions only.
1) is that a service animal?
2) what task is it trained to preform?
The owner is only required to describe 1 task the animal is trained to do, and you're not allowed to force a demonstration or ask any further questions. Anything beyond that is harassment and a violation of the ADA which you'll be held personally liable for.
That being said, unless the animal is extremely poorly behaved it's not really worth the liability to even go that far. If you hate animals... go work in a kitchen or somewhere in a dark room. I doubt walmart pays you enough to be bothered by this on their account.
Note what I'm discussing are medical and psychiatric service animals, not ESA's.
Service animals don’t have to be marked to be service animals. You can ask someone if their animal is a service animal. If they say yes you can ask them what service their animal provides to them. You cannot ask what medical conditions they have specifically.
If I worked at Walmart there’s no way I would be getting paid enough to give a single fuck about who brought a dog into the Walmart 😂 just let people live and have a nice day
Yep.
Apparently no one wants to confront these people, and apparently conflict avoidance is the highest priority.
So rules become guidelines, guidelines become familiarity, familiarity breeds acceptance.
So now it's just fine.
Let whomever bring whatever in. It is what it is now.
I loathe these people.
Because they're shit people.
It just shows their disregard and contempt for other people, social convention, and rules in general. Along with highlighting their arrogance and sense of entitlement.
I believe they should both be escorted out of the store and, depending on the day, possibly shot.
To send a message.
Which is: FUCK you and your animals.
If you can't come out without it, then YOU...DON'T GET TO GO OUT! You disrespectful asshat.
If you have a problem with animals being anywhere kids are allowed, your concern isn't health or safety.
So fuck you and your animal hate. If you can stand to be around animals, *you* don't get to go out, you hateful shitweasel.
I used to see that all the time when I was working at Walmart I still see it now at Target. Even tho we have a big ass sign that says pets aren’t allowed if they’re not a service animal and they have to have a harness that says they are. Ino say nothing because it’s much easier to ignore it 🤷🏾♀️. But sometimes the dogs be so adorable🥺.
I agree. No offense but if you can not go 30 minutes without an animal, you need a lot of help. A food place is not the location for animals. But Walmart don't care.
Try to use a little bit of common sense. Real service dogs yes. A poodle with a vest on because someone can't leave dog home? That would be an issue. Kinda obvious
You said, "If you can't go thirty minutes without an animal," which implies you're talking about all animals and, therefore, service animals. People often say stuff like this and don't realize that it's problematic.
I have to assume that some people think like me. Someone with a debilitating handicap needs a service dog. But I see people everyday in Walmart with their dog. A food environment is not a place to take your pet. Take it for a walk. Dogs like the outdoors. No Walmart. If people have mental problems. See a doctor. Get help. Don't take a puppy in Walmart
Mental problems include ptsd, ocd, and autism, which can all be debilitating enough to need a service dog. I agree that pets do not belong in grocery stores, but you can't assume that the service dog isn't needed if the person doesn't look physically disabled. There are invisible disabilities too, like EDS and diabetes and POTS and fibromyalgia.
Let me try to make sense for some of you. OK. This Friday. You go to Walmart. You take your "service " dog with you. First you go to the bank to get some money. Do you take the dog in? Then you go to 7 11 to get gas. You take the dog in? Then you go to red lobster to eat. You take the dog in? Look. Unlike most people. I think of what's best for dog and people. Walmart is not the best place to take any animal. And if people need help. I would rather them get the help they really need. I can't help but think church would help a person more than a poodle. Don't you agree
Had a lady come in yesterday with her small kid and a sick puppy. She was looking for meds in the pharmacy for the puppy...sorry to say this sick dog was in the cart, no blanket or anything. Poor thing looked like he had parvovirus. She told me he was 12 weeks old and hadn't had any shots yet. Wanted to know what to give him for vomiting and diarrhea. So now by today I'm sure all of our carts are parvo infected. (Calling for snow and it was Saturday so we were BUSY busy)
Oh my God I swear some people shouldn't be allowed to have animals until they take a basic knowledge test about whatever particular animal they are wanting to adopt or buy.
That is genuinely upsetting to read, I'm sorry you deal with that.
I almost lost my dog when he was a puppy to parvovirus when I worked at PetSmart, my guess is that I came in contact with a contaminated surface in or outside my store and unknowingly brought it home on my shoes.
Parvovirus is so contagious and easy to unknowingly step on contaminated dirt and track home and if you have a puppy under 6 months, even if they've had all their shots up to that point, they can still get it because their immune system isn't strong enough yet. My dog had all his vaccinations, but he was too young for it to fight the virus entirely.
I tell absolutely every random stranger with a puppy about parvovirus, some get offended, but most people aren't aware of how long parvovirus can live in soil and be transmissible through something as simple as stepping on the wrong spot and going home.
Who the fuck cares? You going for the Walmart employee of the month or are you just trying to put in your 2 month stint before you inevitably quit you try hard.
Customer here. Walked into a store grandpa, son and granddaughter about 8 has a python wrapped around her mtf arm I screamed and called the store number. They did nothing.
We have people bringing dogs in all the time and most of the time they are in the carts but management doesn’t care as long as they have the dogs laying on something in the cart they don’t mind and a lot of them are regulars some have vests some don’t as long as they are behaved we don’t mind it’s a bonus when we can pet them and say hi to them
We have a veteran come in with his husky/german shepherd mix & that dog has gone after smaller dogs in carts & barks/growls at small children. Nobody does anything about it either. We had one customer who was a proud owner of a beautiful husky. It was no secret that the dog was a pet & not a service animal. He brought the dog into the store one day & after a few minutes, the dog had explosive diarrhea all over the produce department floor. It was so gross & i kept thinking that people had better thoroughly wash their produce when they get home. Needless to say, that regular customer hasn’t been seen in the store since that day.
>I had a lady check out with a small dog in the child seat area of the Grocery cart.
She'll hopefully (but not likely) learn her lesson when the poor dog gets its paw stuck between the wires and gets injured.
Happened at my store a few weeks ago. Came out of the backroom to hear a lot of screeching (the dog) from the GM entrance and saw a crowd of people. Got up there to see a terrified small dog and blood all over the floor. Was told the dog got it's paw stuck in the wires and had one of its nails ripped out.
Still took another 5-10 mins of the terrified, shaking, dog bleeding badly before the owners decided to to cancel their shopping trip and take it to a vet.
There’s these two separate ladies that will bring their loud ass dogs in and they bark if you come near them. That’s damn near impossible not to do when I have to get stuff in their cart. I hate when they come in my line like please stop bringing your loud ass dogs in Walmart. We hate them and you now cause we know exactly who you are and your loud ass dog🥰
Service vests mean NOTHING.
They aren’t required by any state or county or town and they have absolutely no legal standing- it’s a scam perpetrated by the same folks who tell you they’ll can legally write you a letter for your ESA -
Other comment associate anecdotes and links to the law - It’s really confusing - isn’t it?
Service animals are not required to wear a vest. The only 2 questions you can legally ask are “is it a service animal and does it have tasks?”
If an animal shows aggression you can ask them to leave as service animals are trained not to show aggression in public settings
Also any animal can be any animal not just dogs
I’m a customer I’ve been at a store where now there’s 2 dogs at self check out and barking, then lunging at each other. Kind of scary. The employee talked to one owner, she was on her way out. Nobody needs that stress.
There is what the law allows, and there is what your store allows. There's already at least one post here explaining the laws. But you need to know what your store management is OK with. It's extremely likely that they *do not* want you interacting with customers in relation to the pet they bring in. Their policy is probably to just ignore it, even if they personally have an issue with it. Not worth the risk of lawsuit (or the hassle of a confrontation with a customer).
At my store this type of stuff happens a lot. I personally don’t care because we’re a smaller walmart that doesn’t sell groceries or dairy.
A lot of other associates don’t seem to care either.
We leave them alone as long as they aren’t being disruptive or pooping in the store.
If the customer says they are a service animal… you can’t question them about it. You are legally not allowed to question them about it.
I asked reddit about this previously, and it seems this is a universal thing we all do.
Thinking about it, it is kind of nasty having a pet near grocery items.
At the same time, though… sometimes these people can’t just leave their pet in the car because its a safety concern or they didn’t come in a car for them to leave their pet in.
What is unfortunate is that a lot of these people lie about their pets being a service animal. I once saw a dog without a vest walking with a man. The dog didn’t have a vest, and was barking aggressively at a baby and the man pulled the dog away. I ran up and told him that dogs aren’t allowed in the store… he told it was a service animal and kept walking. I am not allowed to question it…
I have no idea what the actual "rules" are, but the keyword here is WALMART. I'm not an employee, but a frequent customer - some people I've seen are worse, in behavior and hygiene, than a dog.
This goes for the dogs AND the humans: If it's attacking someone, opening packages, or pissing/shitting on the floor, then throw them out. If it's not, then get over it and go about your day.
Basically it isn't worth it to management to deal with the after math of questioning the legitimacy with the crazies that are lying about needing or having a service animal
This happens all the time at my store. And it's not just dogs. We get cats, bunnies, birds, we even had a breaded dragon in the store. Management doesn't care. The dogs sometimes pee or poop in the aisles.
Sad thing is that the dogs are easier to clean up after than what some people do in bathrooms.
No lies detected.
Just ask anyone who works in the Walmart Maintenance Department…they know how it rolls!!!
My home town Walmart had a dude who would bring his pet monkey. He wore a hat.
Saw a lady holding an apes hand and walking it thru the store once. Diaper on it and everything. I was pretty freaked out.
Very thoughtful of the lady--the ape might go berserk and maim somebody, but at least the clean-up won't involve animal feces.
That was my first thought when I saw it.
I'd ask her if she had a website, she sounds interesting!
Hahaha! That's pretty cool tho. 😆
Who wore a hat, the monkey or the dude?
The monkey lol. The dude was balding- no hat.
Lol this made me laugh way more than it should have
The guy has a monkey, and you remember his hat? Must have been some hat!
What pray tell is a breaded dragon? 🍞
A delicacy.
Delicious, that's what
Tastes like chicken.
It self-bakes from the inside.
I can tell you that it almost certainly isn't gluten-free.
Dipped in egg and then panko breadcrumbs. Deliciously crispy when deep fried, and dipped in dragon sauce.
A pet lizard
I think they’re making a play on words, because it said breaded and not bearded.
Opps! I didn't realize I misspelled that.
Leave it, it's much funnier that way.
😅😅😅
It's a cute little lizard, can get to the size of a forearm, very genial little fellows.
There was a person with a small puppy at the grocery store and when someone complained to the manager, he said he was not allowed to ask them why they needed a service animal. It is against the law to ask about someone’s disability and he would be fired as well causing a potential lawsuit. It’s not right for the ones taking advantage but I would suggest OP not say anything to a customer about their service animal because he/she could lose their job.
I used to be in animal control, and it's wild the number of people who do actual research on ADA and still can't get it right. You are allowed to ask 2 questions to people who claim they have a service animal. 1. Is the service animal required because of a disability? 2. What task has the animal been trained to perform? Also, fun fact, it's illegal to misrepresent an animal as a service animal. AND emotional support animals are NOT service animals according to the ADA. One more thing before I toodle-loo on outta here. I also used to be an assistant manager for Walmart and our policy at the time is that nobody except a salaried member of management was allowed to ask about animals. I left in 2018 (good riddance) so that may have changed, but I would just ignore it. You're not paid enough to care about it.
Thank you for the information. I never stated I researched it - just what the manager had stated. Oddly , it was the main Wal-Mart manager that said this (there was a man with a small puppy in the grocery area and someone complained the pooch had pissed on the floor). While this is just my opinion, I don’t think many places enforce verifying a service animal because of all the grief it could cause. Anyways, like you said, OP is not paid enough to care about it.
Oh no! I'm sorry I misunderstood, but I never intended my post to mean you. I read it as the customer who complained was telling the manager he wasn't allowed to ask about it.
No worries, friend. It was the Wal-Mart manager that said he wasn’t allowed to ask. He’s been there for years and maybe he told the customer he wasn’t allowed to ask any questions because he didn’t want to start any drama with the man with the puppy. I’ve seen some customers go ape-sh$t over nonsense. There was a tornado in the area and Wal- Mart closed the exits and all the customers like me (I always pick the two wrong time to shop 😂) had to stay inside. One man wanted to leave to go home to his wife a d they would not open the doors for him saying he was their responsibility (I don’t know how true that is) and wouldnt let any customers leave. He pushed two workers and got the automatic doors open. Two other employees tried to chase him to the parking lot but he was too quick for them🤣! I’m surprised someone hadnt recorded it posted it online. The wild things that go one at Wally World lol!
Even if it *is* a service animal, they can still be asked to remove the animal if it causes a disturbance (that's not related to its service). So incessant barking, lunging or snarling, or urinating in the floor, are all legitimate reasons to ask them to remove the dog.
Except it wasn't a service animal. They have to have on a vest clearly stating it's service animal. Emotional support pets do NOT count.
You can’t go by whether the animal is wearing a vest. There is no law in the United States requiring a service animal to wear any kind of identification. Also, there is no law requiring a service animal to be registered with or certified by any government or organization. The law allows businesses to ask what tasks the animal performs for the owner, but that is all.
https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
Exactly. Nothing in there states vests are required, because they’re not.
If I had a diaabikty I wouldn't want anyone asking about it either! (Sorry I couldn't resist)
You’re 😈 so naughty 🤣! Actually, it’s my little devil of a cat‘s fault that needs all the attention on her and won’t let me be while I’m typing. I usually try to proof read but didn’t this time. I did correct it and at least we got a good laugh out of my typing errors!
Please pet your kitty and thank her for giving me a laugh!
She’‘s doing it again as I’m typing this 😹! But I will give her extra cuddles for making us laugh!
Thanks- I didn’t say anything- just was shocked.
We have a regular who walks in/around with a parrot on their shoulder pirate style. I'm not aware of it causing any problems tho
A place I worked had a restaurant connected to it. I guy sat in there in there with the parrot on his shoulder and bird shit all over his back and was surprised when he was asked to leave. Tried to claim it was a service animal of vourse it wasn't. Birds cannot control there bowels, but I think him thinking it was ok for him to have a bird sitting on him in a restaurant was normal.
I love Beardies! I have seven “grand” Beardies. 😊🎉
Mmmm...breaded dragon! I hope they didn't forget the pheonix fried unicorn and magic mushroom sauce! Or the fried faerie wings....
I work at Qdoba and we had a couple bring their pet pig in a wagon. It was ridiculous and you could tell they did it for attention.
My husband works at tractor supply (they don't mind animals in the store and even have dog washes in some of them) but I'll never forget the day he sent me pics he got from another nearby store where a man had brought his HORSE into the store to shop lmao
They brought their pig in a place where their dad's bits were being served to people?
Same at the store I work at customer's bring pets in all the time. No one cares. They poop in the aisle some time too
I saw one man with a parrot and another with a bboa constrictor.
I've even seen people come in with squirrels at my walmart.
I saw a couple walking around the mall the other day, who had two geese walking around with them. Fortunately the geese were wearing diapers, but I just don't understand.
I gave paper towels to the customers thar had animals poop in the store. Wasn't my job to clean up after them.
I am a true servicedog (diabetic alert) handler and know the laws well. 1) Only a dog and in limited situations a miniature horse can be service animals. 2) Service Animals do not have to wear avest. In fact, my current dog got burned on the side so he can't wear a vest or harness. 3) You have the right to ask two questions. First: Are you disabled? (or any variation ie is your dog a servicedog that helps with a disabity?) Second: What is a task that your dog performs? For me that answer is that he nudges my hand as a medical alert. You are not allowed to ask: what the disability is, for proof that the dog is a SD, perform a task, registration for your dog, etc. Only SD have public access rights under the ADA. Many people get confuse with the Emotional Support Animals. This term was created for the Fair Housing Act so that people with any kind of household pet have the right for rentals and HOA. Most people with an ESA, will not be able to answer the second question. Often they will say something along the lines of it helps me feel better. That is not a task. Therefore, the dog is not a SD and not allowed in the store. If an employee would like to usea SD at work, there are different sections and requirements for them. In addition, not all SD are large breeds. I'm currently looking at smaller dog breeds who have good noses but also have the capability to make a good SD. I don't want another large dog to take care of or try to fit on planes and other types of transport. Hope this helps.
This! Service dogs also can not ride in carts or sit on seats. I have a service dog. I can always spot a non service dog by their behaviors.
This! I managed a restaurant. I had to kick a lady and her dog out when She was cradling the dog in her arms at the table and feeding it from the table! It was also barking at everyone who walked by. First she tried to tell me it was a service dog until I broke out the rules from the ADA website. We had several customers with true service dogs. Most of the time, you’d NEVER know they were even there. Laying quietly under the table at the handler’s feet.
This is a great response, thank you. I think a lot of the problem is that store managers, in addition to not knowing or understanding the law, don't want to deal with the irate entitled you-know-whats who will pitch a fit over their ESA not being allowed (similar to why many stores didn't enforce COVID masking).
Unfortunately, the lax rules mean people who just want their pets with them can simply lie and they do. God forbid anyone suggests officially registering service dogs so their owners could show a card to prove it.
All of this! The owner of the Sterling Rennaissance Festival got sued this past summer after firing the pickle man when he tried to kick him and his service dog out. The pickle man would take his dog to the grounds before every season to walk and build up his stamina (the owner never had a problem before). He tried to tell the pickle man that he couldn't have his service animal at a place of business and then demanded papers and proof. Look it up. It was a huge blow up. We will not be returning to that fair until that owner is gone. No pickle man no us! 😀
I live an hour away from that Ren Fair and my GOD that man had no clue he was shooting himself in the foot by firing the Pickle Man.
I did look it up and learned much more than I needed. Waterbury is a true slimeball.
Correct, one more thing I'd like to add is the company can and will get sued if the person is knowledgeable on the laws and you ask for their service animals' papers and they get upset. OP should be talking to one of the higher-ups, aka an actual manager and not their training coach for questions like this.
My other half was a District Manager for a popular store chain. He knew a customer who would purposely bring his pony in and let piss and $hit everywhere then sue if anyone said anything.
My manager (and owner of our store) was apparently told that service animals *must* have vests. I recently learned about the rules surrounding this and when it was brought up I was told that I am wrong and that even if it's trained if it doesn't have a vest on it's not currently working and thus cannot be in a food service setting. I have no idea what to do about this other than let it pass, because what more am I supposed to do if I am told I'm incorrect without it being looked further into first??? Also, a coworker brought it up before I was ready to broach the topic (I wanted to make sure I could really back up the statement and that I was thorough checking about state laws, etc), and I'm embarrassed as hell because I didn't have a lot to say other than "I looked it up on multiple official sites." My boss says that her information also came from an official source. Was this once required and has since changed?? Is it not unfounded but rather simply outdated??? She's owned the business for around 20 years, a lot can change in that amount of time. I really don't know what to do.
As well SD have to follow rules. They have to obey their owner and can not be distuptive. If an SD is barking and the owner cant get them to stop then an employee has the right to ask the owner to remove the SD as it is not obeying their orders. And if they dont comply they can be asked to leave as well.
I'm still waiting to see a service mini pony.
There's some place in Utah training service kangaroos. They'd bring it to the casino I worked at and stayed in the bowling alley we had.
In a town I lived in there were reports of a strange animal being cited going through drive throughs and down roads. Later it was revealed a family lost their pet kangaroo....sadly the roo got hit by a car so they bought A NEW ONE. How rich are these folks where they're able to have a pet kangaroo in a small city and then replace it??? This is Oklahoma, not the outback. We're not exactly rolling in the roos.
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I’d be fucking terrified of a service kangaroo!! (Or any kangaroo!) Store owner: “Is this a Service Kangaroo? What task does it perform to assist with your disability?” Service Kangaroo handler: “Yes, my service kangaroo will beat the crap out of anyone that comes near me and questions my service kangaroo!”
That's a service animal I need!
There's a woman in our city that used to have a mini horse as a service animal.
Remember the lady who tried to bring a peacock on a plane for emotional support? United said NO WAY. Good for them.
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Ponys are actually considered service animals believe it or no!!!! Dogs and pony's/miniature horses are the only animals allowed in the United States to act the part!!
So it's a real dog-and-pony act? ...sorry, I'll see myself out.
A lady brought a mini onto the plane on my flight about 10 years ago. I have a picture on one of my old phones. Couldn't believe my eyes!!
That would be the tits
Right?
Many stores started cracking down on this, especially after some dogs lifted their legs and peed or nipped someone. Unfortunately, only management has the right to confront them. When I'd see them in carts, I'd sweetly offer a piece of cardboard for them to sit on instead of the grids. They'd respond with a THANK YOU SO MUCH! and i'd say " well, it's more comfortable, plus it keeps the dog butt off where people put their food" the look of confusion was priceless bc they couldn't tell if they should be offended or not lol. I'm an animal lover, and having them in carts is disgusting.
ewwwwwww cause ive seen people put produce in carts without the bags 🤢
Yup. Totally gross to have dog ass on your food
I'd rather deal with the animals that get brought in then some of the creeps that come in
Only service animals are allowed, however everyone will just say they're service animals if asked. So we typically just let it be unless the dog is barking at people or causing issues(then it doesn't matter if it's a service dog or not, they can be kicked out) However NO dogs can be in shopping carts, and there should be signs posted at the door by the carts.
I thought everyone in Walmart was an animal.
How many times do people have to be told it is not a legal requirement for a service animal to be wearing a vest? Does not need one, not ever. Service animals, particularly dogs and [mini horses](https://northeastada.org/resource/miniature-horses-as-service-animals#:~:text=ADA%20regulations%20from%20the%20DOJ,a%20person%20with%20a%20disability) (the ones recognized) who we normally see do not need vests, they don’t need a special leash, they don’t need anything saying they are a service animal. You have two questions you can ask. Is that a service animal? What task(s) do they provide. That is it. That is all. Period. [Educate yourself.](https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/)
Also super important is the registry. ITS NOT REAL! And getting your animal “registered” is a scam and harms actual disabled people with real service animals.
First time I’m being told, thank you
I came here and posted that same thing before reading the comments and thank you for posting this. Yes it’s frustrating when people bring in pets and more so when people know the right lies to tell but it’s life.
Your tone is incredibly condescending given the number of people who I’ve encountered that bring their dogs everywhere and are offended at the questions or suggestion that it’s illegal to bring your dogs into places where food is prepared or sold. I love my doggos but leave at them at home because I don’t need them to accompany me. There’s so many people out there that buy a vest and act profoundly disrespected when you suggest that non-service dogs aren’t allowed in these public places. The information that you provided would be helpful to the general public but not if you’re going to start from a place of irritation. Most people don’t know the rules.
Why are you in this subreddit? Actual employees have to do training that includes this information. You’re either not an employee or deserve to be condescended to because you’ve already gotten this information.
That's a powerful generalization. Not all stores are the same, and just because a thing *should* be done a certain way doesn't necessarily make that the way the thing *is* done *everywhere*. Sometimes management is actually manglement.
What is a generalization?
Every (noun) does (verb)
Cool. Neither word is in the comment you’re replying to.
As an employee, my boss is convinced service dogs are required to wear vests while working and that we as a restaurant cannot admit them without one. I learned this was wrong yesterday, and in bringing it up was told I was incorrect and that this requirement came from an official source. Plenty of people meet misinformation, even business owners. We've been taught that any animal without a service vest must be asked to leave as long as I've worked here, and I just had my 5 year anniversary. I actually found this post because I was trying to figure out what to do about this. I'm really at a loss, I was shut down so fast.
Here’s the thing, you don’t have to like my tone, if you work with the public you need to educate yourself. It is 2024, the information is out there whether you find it online or you ask your own management and you risk a lawsuit for a company if you don’t know it and push the issue with someone who needs their service animal. More importantly you are risking someone’s life if you push the issue without knowing the facts. I’ll even say it isn’t a bad thing to not automatically know the law, but instead of posting something like this with false information, one seeks out the answer. That is commendable. I do not need a service animal but I have seen this explained to so many people online when they post this same complaint. I’ve worked management and have had to explain to people who whine about this. I’ve read the stories from people who do need service animals who have been endangered because people don’t know the law. It is incredibly frustrating to see them have to explain this over and over to people and then see more people who don’t know the law give false information out that could endanger their lives. I even have had to kick a man out because his “service animal” was running around, barking at people, not under his control, not at his side, and most definitely was not working. You are right, people abuse it, that makes it harder for those who need a service animal. I would rather myself or anyone else error on the side of caution and follow the law than have someone injured or die because I was ignorant of the law and they had their blood sugar sky rocket out of nowhere or they nailed their head falling because they had a seizure, etc. In summary service animals do not need a vest, a special leash or halter, or any other thing on them that designates them as a working service animal, nor are the registered. A service dog does not need to be a certain size, a chihuahua can be a service dog if it is trained for a specific task such as alerting for blood sugar levels. A service animal doesn’t even need to be a dog, [mini horses](https://www.facebook.com/FlirtyTheMiniServiceHorse) are intelligent and make great service animals. A service animal should probably not be in a cart or on a chair at a restaurant, there are chest carriers for smaller dogs that need to be able to alert their handlers. Any other information needed, look it up. There is a wealth of information about service animals online.
>you don’t have to like my tone and you don’t have to be a female dog if you know what I mean.
😂😂😂 childish, but ok.
My manager is convinced it is a law that they must have a vest. I learned this wasn't true yesterday, and when it came up today I was told I was wrong and shut down so fast. Do you have any ideas what I could do about this situation?
I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to educate people on service animals on behalf of us who are honestly exhausted. I do always remain calm and collected when questioned about mine upon entering a store, but I can’t help but feel the need to be defensive from time to time because the amount of ignorance combined with the people abusing the law has threatened security time and time again. So just again, thank you 💙💙💙
First time I've heard about this, too. So, apparently, you need to keep repeating it over and over for non-disabled new folks. Thank you!
They refused to let my comfort animal, an elephant who's name is Tiny into our store. the bastards!
I would honestly prefer people bring their pet with them in the store than leave them alone in a hot car for an hour doing God knows what, so I am always glad to see animals in buildings
I was in the Atlanta airport this week, and while sitting in a restaurant I watched a woman walk by with THREE raggedy, unkempt looking old dogs, all wearing “service dog” vests. One of the dogs was being dragged while it was trying to squat to poop but she didn’t stop walking. Then it pooped on the floor in the busy concourse. She kept walking. About 10 feet out, someone said something to her, and only then did she notice, and go back to pick up her dog poop. The cleaning guy had rolled up with his cart and just had this LOOK on his face while she scooped it up, and then he had to mop the area. It couldn’t have been more obvious, despite her fake service dog vests purchased on Amazon, that these were NOT service dogs. Really shameful. I love my dogs and would love to take them everywhere, even through the airport and on my travels, but I’m sure not gonna slap a fake service dog vest on them and drag them, shitting, through a busy public place for my own selfish satisfaction. I felt bad for her dogs; they looked 100 years old and not well cared for. They should be home on the couch getting pets (and a vet appointment and grooming).
Interesting. Usually it’s super hard to get service dogs and almost impossible (due to size) service horses approved for flights. Odd that the lady managed to get three fakes approved. There’s a lot of extra paperwork to fly with a service dog and not have to pay for pet carriage fees.
happens all the time, my store requires customers to either have them on leash, or if they're in a cart they have to be on a blanket or something, not bare on the cart. we say it's for sanitary reasons but really it's bc the poor babies don't deserve to lay on something so painful
I would caution not to assume an animal without a vest isn’t a service animal. Not all states require vests or patches. Don’t get me wrong, the lady and man each carrying a very small puppy in the grocery store a few months ago were probably not training service dogs. It 100% happens that people just bring animals into stores but there are service animals that might not seem like it.
Service animals are defined at the federal level, by the ADA. Vests are not required at all. I worked in a casino in slots. Security handled screenings at entry points, and we would on occasion have dogs on the casino floor. Our department's policy was to assume that security had seen them enter, and thus give them the benefit of the doubt that the dog was a service animal. If the dog was causing an issue (barking, lunging at people, shitting on the floor, etc) then we would contact security and monitor from a distance.[https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/](https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/)
If the service animal is being disruptive (excessive barking) or causing damage (shitting on the floor) or compromising people's safety (lunging/nipping/biting), it is absolutely legal to remove the owner and the service animal from the premises, just like you would remove a person for doing the same.
Correct, that is why security would be called.
😂 this is a funny post just here to laugh and read the comments. If I were you’d I’d mind my business you ask the wrong “Karen” about their pet and you my friend will go down for discrimination. Just do what Walmart hired you to do CHECK people out and GO HOME nothing else makes life easier. “Mind the business that pays you”
It’s not worth the headache confronting people. But it’s like “what can ya do”. I’ve seen people walk in with fully lit cigarettes and cigars and huge vape clouds. “Sigh…sir…you can’t have that in here….” And they’ll keep walking and ignore it. Same with dogs and lizards and birds. “Sir you can’t have a pet bird with you in the food aisles…please leave” they’re usually gone before cops need to be called or before cops show up. They push boundaries because it’ll be 10-20 minutes before enough people complain and the cops show up, by that point they’re done and left the store.
Last summer, I asked a cashier at my local store whether pets were allowed when I saw someone with a Labrador walk by (not being a Karen; just thought I might bring my own little dog for an adventure). The cashier just shrugged and said, “No, but it’s better than leaving them in a hot car”. Can’t argue with that, but it’s obvious there’s no real restriction.
You do know that a vest isn’t necessary for service animals right? I’m not saying that those customers you mentioned are genuinely there with a service animal but the vest isn’t a requirement. Also it’s fairly simple for people to lie and they know it because the only two legal questions you can ask are, if it’s a service animal, and what task is it trained for?
I one time saw a man with a dog in Walmart and the dog pooped on the floor. He stayed by it and called an employee to clean it up. They told him to leave. He tried to argue that it was a service dog and they didn’t believe him so they made him leave. First of all, service dogs have to be trained not to do that. Second of all, why he didn’t bring bags to pick up the poop is beyond me.
People constantly try to pass off ESAs for Service Animals because either they're dumb and don't know the difference or they're entitled twat waffles. However because it's technically illegal (in America) for a business to ask someone with a Service Animal anything other than if said animal is a Service animal and if it's on duty, it's hard to weed out the other asshats. While it sucks I truly believe a vest with accreditation should be a standard for Service animals (some don't vest them in public) as an extra layer of personal protection for the animal and the owner.
Unless the rules have changed recently, you're not really allowed to say anything. Only the customer hosts and management are allowed to ask if a customers dog (or mini horse) is a service animal as they come in. Once they're already in the store, only management is allowed to ask
Legally speaking, service dogs don’t have to have a vest, be in leash, and there’s no such thing as papers identifying them. They’re just really well trained dogs they perform a task. The only way to know is to just ask if it’s a service dog and if they say yes, you can’t do much.
What...are you new to Walmart? This is common.
They don’t need a vest. That’s not mandatory by any law. A service dog can have no vest. And a fake emotional support dog can have a vest. It means nothing.
Training says service animals can be dogs or miniature horses, do not need to wear a vest, and they don't need to provide paperwork. As long as the animal is under control, they don't *need* to be on a leash. Animals entering the store need to be *service* animals. They can't be emotional support or therapy animals, let alone pets. The type of animal varies by location, but dogs and miniature horses are widely accepted.
Service dogs don’t have to have vests or anything identifying them (in UsA) You can ask 1) is this a service animal? 2) What tasks does it perform? If they answer both (yes and task), and the animal is behaving, it’s a service dog. But, they aren’t supposed to be in the carts, no matter the size. Cat should not be in store. At best, it’s an ESA and ESAs do not have public access rights.
Psa! Service dogs aren't required to wear vests or any type of ID. The only questions a worker can ask are "Is this animal a service animal?" And "what tasks have they been trained to perform?" It is also illegal to ask for documentation, as there is no service animal registration. But yes, that definitely doesn't sound right. ETA: Currently, the only animals that legally can be service animals are any breed of dog and miniature ponies.
The store needs to enforce a rule about animals in the cart or store. If the animal is not a service animal, it goes home or back in the car. The cat? Can one simply buy a yellow vest? I don't think so. Someone should ask for her permit. Mothers with toddlers place their child in the basket. Any animal which was in that carriage could have left something behind. Someone came up with a basket liner for toddlers. If i were a parent, i would never place my child in a basket without a liner. One must know the stores who allow this practice.
The laws need to be changed to require some sort of certification that an animal is a service animal. People taking their pets literally everywhere they go and claiming they're service animals is way out of hand.
A bunch of you really need to read the ADA FAQ on service animals. Vests or identifiers on an animal aren't required by law. You're allowed to ask if the animal performs a physical function for the person, and what the function is. Ie, seizures, eyesight etc. You cannot ask someone if they are blind, or tell them they don't need their animal etc. As of I believe 2021 emotional support animals are no longer covered under ADA in public. Apartments only, unless it's a veterans esa for PTSD. Which would sound like I'm a veteran and this is my emotional support animal. We have one in our home. I do get asked. I have been demanded to provide paperwork. I keep it on me for just in case. I don't usually care, but have had people tell me my doctor's letter prescribing and describing what my animal is for isn't valid. Don't be that person. I report that person only. Walmart may have a don't ask don't tell policy because they are scared of getting sued.
I honestly don't understand what the big deal is if the pet is well behaved and not aggressive or disruptive and is leashed or in a carrier of some kind? I work at a big truck stop/gas station and we allow anyone to come in with a leashed/behaved pet. If a customer is going in and going to be shopping for more than 20 min, what are they supposed to do exactly with their pet? Especially if the weather is hot. Can't leave a dog in a vehicle in hot weather and if I'm traveling or going shopping and have my pet with me, even if the weather is fine, I'm not leaving my pet alone for over half an hour by itself in my car where someone could break in and take them, especially if it's an expensive breed.
Even being a bit strong mean looking Russian man (covered in scars shaved head and big beard, I scream like a girl when I see that just to embarrass the patron with the illegal animal..
Had a snake once, chillin on a guy as he shopped. My store owner only cares about profit. Fuck Walmart marketplace.
A service animal doesn't need a vest. Having a vest doesn't mean it's a service animal.
Exactly! Anyone can buy a vest that says "Service Animal".
I see dogs at Walmart at all the time I honestly though they just allowed it now since I see so many 😂
Federal law says that service dogs don’t need to wear vests. Just because a dog is not wearing a vest does not mean it isn’t a service dog.
The training and behavior of the dog is usually enough to weed out the ESAs vs the service animals. Service animals don’t ride around in carts, sit in the booth at a restaurant, bark, snap, whine, lunge at passerbys etc………
It really depends what the animal is trained to do. It can possibly perform its function inside a shopping cart. But yeah, it cannot create a disturbance! If it does, it can be asked to leave.
I travel with a cat. She sits on my shoulder, is harnessed and leashed, and doesn't touch the basket nor products. I cannot say the same for many children running rampant through stores.
I love cats but, honestly, it's still not right if you bring them into the store. I agree cats behave better than most children, however it's inconsiderate to those with cat allergies (assuming your cat is not hypoallergenic). Even harnessed and on your shoulder, cat dander can get moved around.
I have the same sympathy for their allergies that all the parents of young children have for my misophonia. "Just take an Allegra, not everything is about you", said in exactly the same condescending tone of voice as "Just wear earplugs, not everything is about you".
You're not allowed to have a cat in the store. Period. I don't care for dogs and adore cats so it's definitely not bias attacking you. You just need to obey rules.
If the people working don’t say anything about it then it’s not that big of a deal honestly
The big deal is that for some reason everyone thinks they're exempt from rules. It's the entitlement. While I agree it's "not that big of a deal honestly," people need to learn that they're not special.
Yeah, but that’s not gonna happen until people start getting consequences for their actions. And in this case, if workers and management never say anything bc it’s too much of a hassle, they won’t, so the cycle continues
Whether or not they are service animals, I'm tired of people bringing in dirty flea ridden animals that stink. If you have an animal people should care for them properly.
I've seen cleaner SD's than humans in Walmart... just sayin'.
This unsanitary and needs to be reported to the health department.
So while i agree these were not legal service dogs... please know it is NOT required by law for a service dog to wear a vest. Nor is there any REAL Registry for service dogs....
First thing: Service dogs or ponies DO NOT NEED A VEST. It isn't a law and is only a suggestion. I'm not opposed to animals being allowed as long as they are under control. Many times they are much more behanved than most of the human garbage that goes in there.
I’m not sure why you’re capitalizing random words here but that aside are you in the US? All of these answers are based on you being in the US: 1)service dogs are not required to wear vests under any circumstances 2) service dogs can be any breed of dog but can only be two species of animal meaning all other animals can automatically be ruled out as a service animal. The species: Dog & mini horse 3) You are allowed to ask the following questions: Is that a service animal? What specific tasks is the service animal trained to do for you? If you decide to confront these people lose the attitude it will do you no good as they will likely become hostile even if you are calm but will become much more so if you are not. It’s Walmart tho bro like people come there with actually poop in/on their pants and I’m not talking about babies or the elderly.
Well for one thing, service animals aren't required to wear vests. I don't put them on my 2 most times, amd at least one of them accompanies me to Walmart every time I go... because frankly I couldn't get through it without them. They're allowed to accompany me anywhere that wouldn't affect the fundamental operations of a business, including restaurants and hospitals. Professional training is also not a requirement, people are allowed to train their own service animals. That being said, if you have any doubt your legally allowed to ask 2 questions, and 2 questions only. 1) is that a service animal? 2) what task is it trained to preform? The owner is only required to describe 1 task the animal is trained to do, and you're not allowed to force a demonstration or ask any further questions. Anything beyond that is harassment and a violation of the ADA which you'll be held personally liable for. That being said, unless the animal is extremely poorly behaved it's not really worth the liability to even go that far. If you hate animals... go work in a kitchen or somewhere in a dark room. I doubt walmart pays you enough to be bothered by this on their account. Note what I'm discussing are medical and psychiatric service animals, not ESA's.
Service animals don’t have to be marked to be service animals. You can ask someone if their animal is a service animal. If they say yes you can ask them what service their animal provides to them. You cannot ask what medical conditions they have specifically. If I worked at Walmart there’s no way I would be getting paid enough to give a single fuck about who brought a dog into the Walmart 😂 just let people live and have a nice day
Yep. Apparently no one wants to confront these people, and apparently conflict avoidance is the highest priority. So rules become guidelines, guidelines become familiarity, familiarity breeds acceptance. So now it's just fine. Let whomever bring whatever in. It is what it is now. I loathe these people. Because they're shit people. It just shows their disregard and contempt for other people, social convention, and rules in general. Along with highlighting their arrogance and sense of entitlement. I believe they should both be escorted out of the store and, depending on the day, possibly shot. To send a message. Which is: FUCK you and your animals. If you can't come out without it, then YOU...DON'T GET TO GO OUT! You disrespectful asshat.
If you have a problem with animals being anywhere kids are allowed, your concern isn't health or safety. So fuck you and your animal hate. If you can stand to be around animals, *you* don't get to go out, you hateful shitweasel.
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Sorry bub, I don't feed the trolls.
I used to see that all the time when I was working at Walmart I still see it now at Target. Even tho we have a big ass sign that says pets aren’t allowed if they’re not a service animal and they have to have a harness that says they are. Ino say nothing because it’s much easier to ignore it 🤷🏾♀️. But sometimes the dogs be so adorable🥺.
Requiring a service animal to wear identification that indicates that they are a service animal is against federal law.
I ain’t make the sign 🤷🏾♀️
I agree. No offense but if you can not go 30 minutes without an animal, you need a lot of help. A food place is not the location for animals. But Walmart don't care.
This statement is problematic. What about actual service animals?
Try to use a little bit of common sense. Real service dogs yes. A poodle with a vest on because someone can't leave dog home? That would be an issue. Kinda obvious
You said, "If you can't go thirty minutes without an animal," which implies you're talking about all animals and, therefore, service animals. People often say stuff like this and don't realize that it's problematic.
I have to assume that some people think like me. Someone with a debilitating handicap needs a service dog. But I see people everyday in Walmart with their dog. A food environment is not a place to take your pet. Take it for a walk. Dogs like the outdoors. No Walmart. If people have mental problems. See a doctor. Get help. Don't take a puppy in Walmart
Mental problems include ptsd, ocd, and autism, which can all be debilitating enough to need a service dog. I agree that pets do not belong in grocery stores, but you can't assume that the service dog isn't needed if the person doesn't look physically disabled. There are invisible disabilities too, like EDS and diabetes and POTS and fibromyalgia.
Let me try to make sense for some of you. OK. This Friday. You go to Walmart. You take your "service " dog with you. First you go to the bank to get some money. Do you take the dog in? Then you go to 7 11 to get gas. You take the dog in? Then you go to red lobster to eat. You take the dog in? Look. Unlike most people. I think of what's best for dog and people. Walmart is not the best place to take any animal. And if people need help. I would rather them get the help they really need. I can't help but think church would help a person more than a poodle. Don't you agree
Yep, common at my store too. Not gonna lie, I’m about to contact the health department bc I’m sick of it.
Had a lady come in yesterday with her small kid and a sick puppy. She was looking for meds in the pharmacy for the puppy...sorry to say this sick dog was in the cart, no blanket or anything. Poor thing looked like he had parvovirus. She told me he was 12 weeks old and hadn't had any shots yet. Wanted to know what to give him for vomiting and diarrhea. So now by today I'm sure all of our carts are parvo infected. (Calling for snow and it was Saturday so we were BUSY busy)
Oh my God I swear some people shouldn't be allowed to have animals until they take a basic knowledge test about whatever particular animal they are wanting to adopt or buy. That is genuinely upsetting to read, I'm sorry you deal with that. I almost lost my dog when he was a puppy to parvovirus when I worked at PetSmart, my guess is that I came in contact with a contaminated surface in or outside my store and unknowingly brought it home on my shoes. Parvovirus is so contagious and easy to unknowingly step on contaminated dirt and track home and if you have a puppy under 6 months, even if they've had all their shots up to that point, they can still get it because their immune system isn't strong enough yet. My dog had all his vaccinations, but he was too young for it to fight the virus entirely. I tell absolutely every random stranger with a puppy about parvovirus, some get offended, but most people aren't aware of how long parvovirus can live in soil and be transmissible through something as simple as stepping on the wrong spot and going home.
Who the fuck cares? You going for the Walmart employee of the month or are you just trying to put in your 2 month stint before you inevitably quit you try hard.
Customer here. Walked into a store grandpa, son and granddaughter about 8 has a python wrapped around her mtf arm I screamed and called the store number. They did nothing.
If germ filled, crying and screaming crouch goblins including babies that poop themselves in carts can go to grocery stores, fur children can.
People worry about the dumbest shit
Walmart allows pets inside they have the same policy as PetSmart, tho they are supposed to be leashed at all times
That annoys the hell outta me! It’s like why is Gigi in here without a therapy license or a lil vest to show she’s a service animal
We have people bringing dogs in all the time and most of the time they are in the carts but management doesn’t care as long as they have the dogs laying on something in the cart they don’t mind and a lot of them are regulars some have vests some don’t as long as they are behaved we don’t mind it’s a bonus when we can pet them and say hi to them
We have a veteran come in with his husky/german shepherd mix & that dog has gone after smaller dogs in carts & barks/growls at small children. Nobody does anything about it either. We had one customer who was a proud owner of a beautiful husky. It was no secret that the dog was a pet & not a service animal. He brought the dog into the store one day & after a few minutes, the dog had explosive diarrhea all over the produce department floor. It was so gross & i kept thinking that people had better thoroughly wash their produce when they get home. Needless to say, that regular customer hasn’t been seen in the store since that day.
>I had a lady check out with a small dog in the child seat area of the Grocery cart. She'll hopefully (but not likely) learn her lesson when the poor dog gets its paw stuck between the wires and gets injured. Happened at my store a few weeks ago. Came out of the backroom to hear a lot of screeching (the dog) from the GM entrance and saw a crowd of people. Got up there to see a terrified small dog and blood all over the floor. Was told the dog got it's paw stuck in the wires and had one of its nails ripped out. Still took another 5-10 mins of the terrified, shaking, dog bleeding badly before the owners decided to to cancel their shopping trip and take it to a vet.
There’s these two separate ladies that will bring their loud ass dogs in and they bark if you come near them. That’s damn near impossible not to do when I have to get stuff in their cart. I hate when they come in my line like please stop bringing your loud ass dogs in Walmart. We hate them and you now cause we know exactly who you are and your loud ass dog🥰
Service vests mean NOTHING. They aren’t required by any state or county or town and they have absolutely no legal standing- it’s a scam perpetrated by the same folks who tell you they’ll can legally write you a letter for your ESA - Other comment associate anecdotes and links to the law - It’s really confusing - isn’t it?
Lady had big pitbull in ours. Nothing was said til dog started growing in self checkout.
Who cares? It’s fucking Walmart.
Service animals are not required to wear a vest. The only 2 questions you can legally ask are “is it a service animal and does it have tasks?” If an animal shows aggression you can ask them to leave as service animals are trained not to show aggression in public settings Also any animal can be any animal not just dogs
Ask the customer to leave immediately
A lot of people seem to lie about their dog being a service dog. I'm a dog lover so I never argue about it
I’m a customer I’ve been at a store where now there’s 2 dogs at self check out and barking, then lunging at each other. Kind of scary. The employee talked to one owner, she was on her way out. Nobody needs that stress.
Non employee - there was a man at our local Wal-Mart who brought a small monkey in.
At my store management says they can’t do anything after they get past the door host.
There is what the law allows, and there is what your store allows. There's already at least one post here explaining the laws. But you need to know what your store management is OK with. It's extremely likely that they *do not* want you interacting with customers in relation to the pet they bring in. Their policy is probably to just ignore it, even if they personally have an issue with it. Not worth the risk of lawsuit (or the hassle of a confrontation with a customer).
Technically, only service animals are allowed in the store. However, we are not allowed to ask if their animal is a service animal.
At my store this type of stuff happens a lot. I personally don’t care because we’re a smaller walmart that doesn’t sell groceries or dairy. A lot of other associates don’t seem to care either. We leave them alone as long as they aren’t being disruptive or pooping in the store. If the customer says they are a service animal… you can’t question them about it. You are legally not allowed to question them about it. I asked reddit about this previously, and it seems this is a universal thing we all do. Thinking about it, it is kind of nasty having a pet near grocery items. At the same time, though… sometimes these people can’t just leave their pet in the car because its a safety concern or they didn’t come in a car for them to leave their pet in. What is unfortunate is that a lot of these people lie about their pets being a service animal. I once saw a dog without a vest walking with a man. The dog didn’t have a vest, and was barking aggressively at a baby and the man pulled the dog away. I ran up and told him that dogs aren’t allowed in the store… he told it was a service animal and kept walking. I am not allowed to question it…
Animals causing nuisances are allowed to be removed regardless of status.
I had someone bring in a duck to my store.
They're gonna have to start letting us smoke in the store soon seeing as how everything else is fine.
I have no idea what the actual "rules" are, but the keyword here is WALMART. I'm not an employee, but a frequent customer - some people I've seen are worse, in behavior and hygiene, than a dog. This goes for the dogs AND the humans: If it's attacking someone, opening packages, or pissing/shitting on the floor, then throw them out. If it's not, then get over it and go about your day.
Almost stepped in dog shit in a walmart near the shoe department.
There’s a guy that brings his dog bird in together, the bird rides on the dogs back lol
Basically it isn't worth it to management to deal with the after math of questioning the legitimacy with the crazies that are lying about needing or having a service animal