So, long gone are the days when you leave your dog at home while you grocery shop. Many stores are now pet-friendly, and some even offer treats and amenities for your four-legged friend. But what about Whole Foods? Are dogs allowed in Whole Foods?
We Asked Them Directly – What they said.
As there is a lot of miscellaneous information on the internet, we contacted them directly to get the scoop, and here is what they had to say:
“Thank you for reaching out to us at Whole Foods Market. All service animals in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome in our stores.
The ADA requires businesses to grant access to disabled people with service animals, even in places where animals would not normally be allowed. People with service animals are not required to carry any sort of special identification, and as retailers, we can only ask if the animal is a service animal and what service the animal is trained to provide.
Only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.”
What is the ADA?
The ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it is a set of laws that are designed to protect the rights of disabled people.
The ADA requires businesses to make accommodations for people with disabilities, including allowing service animals in places where animals are not normally allowed.
Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals
It’s important to note the difference between service animals and emotional support animals.
Service animals are trained to perform a specific task for their owner, such as guiding them around or fetching things for them.
Emotional support animals are not required to have any specific training, and their sole purpose is to provide comfort or emotional support to their owner.
What does this mean for you?
Unfortunately, for dog owners, this means that your furry friend is not allowed in the store, even if they are well-behaved. Service animals are the only exception.
That doesn’t mean this will be the case forever, though. As we’ve seen over the past years, dog-friendly stores are on the rise, so who knows, maybe Whole Foods will be one of them in a few years. Fingers crossed!
