https://www.reddit.com/r/columbiamo/comments/1j7k1yu/stop_bringing_your_nasty_dogs_in_stores/
created by New_Trekkie on 09/03/2025 at 22:51 UTC
186 upvotes, 39 top-level comments (showing 25)
Obviously this isn’t intended for those with legitimate service dogs. I was in Sam’s Club this afternoon and there were THREE people with their dogs. Two of which were sitting in the carts. None of them had a service vest, or even a leash on them. One of the nasty mangy cart dogs was barking at people. At what point did this become a social norm? I’m sure management at most stores are scared of violating ADA and that’s why these people feel like they can get away with doing whatever they want. Definitely not a Columbia-specific problem, just venting.
Comment by My-drink-is-bourbon at 09/03/2025 at 22:56 UTC
76 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Someone had their non service dog in the Mexico Walmart the other day. No vest, barking, owner was letting people pet it. I love dogs, and currently have a German shepard, but I wouldn't think of taking her in any place where she isn't supposed to be
Comment by Thats_Allota_Dogs at 09/03/2025 at 23:45 UTC
55 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As a service dog handler for 8 years, it’s becoming more and more of a problem. My dog is trained well enough that he wouldn’t miss an alert or get distracted, but if someone’s dog comes after mine and injures him, they owe me 60,000 dollars for another dog. I’m not the type of person to video or confront fakes though because that takes too much energy. I will just tell management and let them deal with it. I hate being disabled and having a service dog and it’s not fun in the slightest. Not to mention that most people don’t realized how overwhelmed and stressed their dogs are when they bring them to non-pet friendly places, and they only care about their own happiness while toting around their pet.
Comment by TTVNerdtron at 09/03/2025 at 23:10 UTC
26 upvotes, 1 direct replies
My wife and I frequent the Grindstone HyVee. We were last a couple months ago and overheard the employees saying "the lady with her dog is back". Turn the corner and a manager was talking to a lady who was trying to hide a small dog in her hoodie.
We own 2 miniature schnauzers, but they only go to dog friendly places and places they're expected (parks, downtown, mall)
Comment by Bks4JHB at 09/03/2025 at 23:33 UTC
55 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Ewww. In a store that sells food? And in the CART?!? That is SO GROSS. I’d find the manager and ask them to sanitize the cart after throwing the dog people out. True service dogs, yes, but pets?—just no.
Comment by poorconnection at 10/03/2025 at 13:24 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you made a venn diagram of people who bring their dogs into stores and people who play music/talk on their phone loudly in stores it would be a circle.
Comment by ToHellWithGA at 09/03/2025 at 23:10 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Even allowing well-behaved dogs in carts seems iffy for a store that sells food, but I would also assume raw meat has been in most of the carts as well. I put fresh veggies and ready to eat foods in one of their many cardboard boxes in my cart and sanitize my hands after loading my car.
Barking though... that would get old.
Comment by Fidget808 at 10/03/2025 at 01:07 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I saw the title and instantly thought of Sam’s. We must’ve been there the same time you were. It’s so dumb. I wish businesses could ask for verification of service. I have no problem with actual service animals, but you should have to provide proof of that service.
Comment by v1nesauce at 09/03/2025 at 23:42 UTC
30 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Really wish stores would just outright ban animals from stores, especially grocery stores. I don't want some nasty ass pet getting anywhere near my food, especially since I'm highly allergic to cats.
Comment by Feisty-Medicine-3763 at 09/03/2025 at 23:44 UTC
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I had a very fever dream experience at Conley Walmart (which itself is a fever dream) where I was walking up to grab an item and didn’t notice a dog in a woman’s cart and the dog barked at me when I got close. I wasn’t mad at all, it just startled the hell out of me. No problem at all really. Then the woman hit the dog for barking at me and I was like oh no. Wow. Um. I didn’t need you to do that. By this point I just had to walk away and say goodbye to the item I was wanting to get. Too much going on
Comment by Mizzoutiger79 at 10/03/2025 at 00:43 UTC
11 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I am truly surprised that business allow this behavior. One kid gets bitten in a store by a non service animal and the lawsuits will begin. I wouldnt want the risk. People feel entitled and self important. Not everyone feels comfortable around their pet.
Comment by Annamarie98 at 09/03/2025 at 23:03 UTC
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
There was one yesterday in the cart at Hobby Lobby. I thought it was just bizarre. People have zero respect for others.
Comment by Hapticat at 10/03/2025 at 11:42 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I love my dog, and he is spoiled, but I've never understood people wanting to take their dog everywhere. Despite how we may feel about our pets, they're not actually human children who can't be left alone for several hours.
Comment by World_Musician at 10/03/2025 at 14:35 UTC
3 upvotes, 2 direct replies
bringing your non-service dog into the store represents a lot of things about our current cultural trajectory, and its not going to stop.
only more people will start doing it too because every time someone sees it they think hey they brought their dog to shop, i'll bring mine next time.
it must be normal to bring your dog shopping now, and i am normal so i will display my normalness to the general public. conversely, it must be cool and counterculture to bring your dog shopping now and im cool and counterculture so i will do it too and display my coolness and countercultureness to the general public.
nothing matters but indulging flippant desires, avoiding inconvienence, and signaling to strangers that you are either terminally unique or terminally normal.
Comment by thatspellsmoon at 10/03/2025 at 00:11 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
YES! I am gobsmacked that people think it's OK to bring their dog into the store. It's not just unsanitary but unsafe. And yes, I have been bit by someone's "good boy who wouldn't hurt a fly."
Comment by Far-Slice-3821 at 10/03/2025 at 00:55 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I have a dog for the first time ever. A quiet cuddly puppy who cries if I leave the room, much less the house. I now understand the appeal of taking your dog into stores...
And yet the idea of taking him anywhere food is sold is anathema. The farmer's market is outdoors, but pets don't belong there. Lowe's allows dogs, but putting him in a cart would be rude AF. Pets don't wear underwear or wash their hands. Leave them at home people!
Comment by VinnyChuChu at 10/03/2025 at 07:07 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Oh my god same, was at sams at the same time with airpods on, heard dogs barking. Was like wtf is going on.. why are there dogs permitted in here
Comment by BroomstickBiplane at 10/03/2025 at 00:45 UTC*
6 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Unrelated, but can we also quit wishing “pet moms” a Happy Mother’s Day as well?
Comment by Aggressive-Gur-987 at 10/03/2025 at 01:53 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Someone got bit by a dog in Sam’s club about a month ago.
Comment by the_EngineerWho at 10/03/2025 at 04:04 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Many places will not allow you to have a dog in a cart unless you have something like cardboard for the animal to stand/sit/lie down on.
Comment by kmd224 at 10/03/2025 at 15:01 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
My service dog has been attacked in Walmart, a lecture at mizzou (I shit you not, I was livid, friends helped me get the dog off mine, thankfully it bit her vest and not her), had a dog try to attack her through the side of the grocery cart at hyvee, a dog jumped on her in mizzou student center, it's very very frustrating and every time I've been terrified she would no longer be able to work, thankfully it's never put her out of work. People, do better, think about those who RELY on their dog, not just want to bring them along.
Comment by Starharmonia at 10/03/2025 at 15:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What is troubling is how much disruption it can cause with actual service dogs.
Comment by Defiant-Arrival-3331 at 10/03/2025 at 15:31 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I was a manager at a nice restaurant in town a few years ago, a lady tried to bring in a little dog and when I put my foot down about it, left, and then came back with it in her purse. I didn’t notice until she’d been sat and eating for a while.
Comment by ChrissySubBottom at 10/03/2025 at 15:35 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It is so pitiful that they crave attention and use dogs to do so…. I purposely make a big show about veering far away in the aisles if they pass.
Comment by Trooperguy12 at 10/03/2025 at 15:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm not completely sure about the exact rules or laws regarding service animals, but I do recall that, under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), businesses are not allowed to ask for proof that an animal is a service animal. From what I understand, there is no official documentation required to verify the animal either. So, I hope I’m not misrepresenting that, and I’m open to correction if I'm wrong.
That said, I agree that pets should not be brought into places of business unless they're legitimate service animals or the business openly advertises that pets are allowed. Service animals are typically well-trained and behave appropriately, which is why they’re allowed access to public spaces. However, I do think there's a problem with people claiming their pets are service animals when they really aren't. Everyone tends to think their pet is the most well-behaved, but in a lot of cases, that’s just not true. It’s problematic when these pets cause issues like barking, urinating or defecating in a business or, even worse, biting someone.
It really creates a gray area where it's difficult to know what’s allowed and what’s not. I think there should be proper documentation or some sort of verification process, but I also recognize that the ADA rules on service animals are a bit ambiguous, making it hard to draw clear lines in some cases. It’s a tricky situation where the balance between rights and safety is hard to strike.
Comment by Grace-and-Maya at 10/03/2025 at 16:34 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’m a service dog handler and frankly im terrified to go in stores with her because I’m constantly worried people will think she’s a fake because she’s not a lab or German shepherd or something so I just want to bring awareness that the ADA has a service dog FAQ page. It answers a lot of these misconceptions. It’ll help you identify the real service dogs and handlers