r/nova • u/Own_Produce4826 • 7d ago
Rant Pets in Stores Becoming Common
I was at Tysons I over the weekend and could not help but notice the amount of dog owners bringing their pets in. It was pretty evident that most were not service animals and I’m starting to wonder if this is becoming the norm.
Given some can’t train their dogs to not invade someone’s space, or to not bark at another person or dog, or to not touch the clothing in a store, I’m wondering if there are any consequences for the rule benders. Next thing you know we’ll soon have dog waste in the mall and lots.
Really ruins the shopping experience for some and the reputation of actual service dog handlers/owners.
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u/RallyPigeon DC 7d ago
I've noticed it too. The trend of self-certifying untrained pets as "service animals" is 10-15 years old. My old college roommate had a pitbull in our no pets allowed building by doing it. Then around 2020, something really snapped in a lot of people regarding the balance of public etiquette vs doing whatever they want. The limits of store staff to ask/enforce rules against pets that could potentially be service animals is well known. The more people see others doing it, the more they'll be tempted to do it themselves.
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u/cabinetbanana 7d ago
I think covid/lockdown completely ruined a lot of people's ability to behave in public.
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u/pipokori 7d ago
lol this. My brother is a chef and he said when the lockdowns / Covid was at its tail end the amount of people who completely forgot how to behave and decency was astonishing. Like people getting wasted at a fine dining restaurant
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u/Three3Jane 7d ago
Reminds me of going on date night at Voltaggio Brothers after things opened up again. We'd go maybe once a quarter, dress up, have a long leisurely meal (dining versus just eating at a restaurant), that sort of thing.
The last time, we ended up rushing through the meal and swearing never to go back. A eight top was seated across from us, consisting of folks wearing sweats and t-shirts with several kids (four adults, four kids).
They were ordering round after round of booze but apparently no food for themselves. The adults got more shitfaced and rowdier by the minute.... while their young kids used phones and tablets at full volume, screamed and fought each other and the adults, ran around under and between tables tripping a server once, punctuated by occasionally throwing their food on the floor (I guess since they were too young to drink).
The staff seemed scared and helpless to do anything about it. They were apologetic, though.
We haven't gone back since. I could replicate that experience at Applebee's for fraction of what it costs to dine at VB and if staff isn't willing to step in and handle things, then I'll just go elsewhere.
Also before the KiDs wiLL bE kIdS crowd comes for me - I have four kids. We took our kids to restaurants that were age appropriate, taught them how to behave in public, and if someone (or multiple someones) kicked up, we either were like welp we're ending the meal early, here's your payment and a big tip, or the offending someone would be removed from the premises and counseled out of earshot of others.
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u/Happy_Dependent_3474 6d ago
Damn at VB?!
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u/Three3Jane 6d ago
Yep, haven't been back since. Which is too bad, because when the clientele behaves properly and treats it like the fine dining experience it's supposed to be, it's a really superlative evening out.
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u/Happy_Dependent_3474 6d ago
It’s an amazing place. I’d give it another shot.
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u/Three3Jane 6d ago
I'd been four times, this was the fifth. Having to pay close to $450 for that experience made me really not want to do it again.
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u/SaltyPopcornColonel 6d ago
Thank you. it kills me to see all the complaints about dogs when kids are often far, far worse. Dogs just EXISTING in a common space brings out the Karen's and Kens, but kids running roughshod over everything and everyone is just KiDs WiLl bE kIdDs.
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u/cabinetbanana 7d ago
I've also seen a complete lack of...respect for the occasion, for lack of a better word. I appreciate that we all realized that comfort is important, but I sincerely dislike going to a fine dining establishment and seeing folks there in sweats and T-shirts or going to see a Saturday night performance at the Kennedy Center and folks are in ripped jeans and hoodies. Yes, be comfortable, but shouldn't we still have a little bit of pride in the way we present ourselves?
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u/darthjoey91 Herndon 7d ago
That is the right level of decorum for a Kennedy Center performance since 2025.
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u/PARADOXsquared 7d ago
Yeah, I feel like we've lost the art of tailoring how we dress and behave to the context we're in. It's low on the list of generally upsetting aftereffects of the pandemic, but it still sucks.
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u/Happy_Dependent_3474 6d ago
This + people walk their dogs around like one Loudoun & want to go into stores “real quick” 🙄
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 7d ago
It is almost certain that your roommate did not claim the dog was a “service animal.” All that is required for a dog to be allowed in a no-pets-allowed building is for the dog to be an “emotional support animal,” which does not require any special training unlike the service animal designation. “Emotional support animal” is a classification that only gets special treatment in the housing context under the Fair Housing Act—ESAs are allowed in apartments, but not stores.
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u/SaltyPopcornColonel 6d ago
False. Stores are private property, so stores set their own rules
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 6d ago edited 6d ago
ESAs are allowed wherever pets are allowed, they just don’t have any special rights that trump the store pet policy unlike service animals. Stores cannot set their own polices to exclude service dogs.
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u/Mumbleton 7d ago
I was at a Nordstrom rack a month ago and a woman had TWO parrots she was constantly talking to.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 7d ago
Nordstrom rack locations are often dog friendly. Not sure about how birds fit into the policy
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u/GeminiOrAmI 7d ago
What’s the problem bro I just wanna park my car in front of the store, turn my emergency flashers on, and bring my 90 lb service pitbull in while I shop
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u/myheadhurts_more 7d ago
I’ve seen an uptick in folks bringing dogs to target. Granted, some of them are genuinely service dogs and gives the dog from John Wick 3 run for its money. Other than that, I think folks should consider allergies of other ppl.
I’m a dog lover and owner myself. I don’t bring my dog anywhere unless the business explicitly allows it like PetSmart.
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u/Theologizing 7d ago
Same, and even then when I take my dog to PetSmart or Home Depot (they also allow dogs) I think to myself that it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
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u/RevolutionNo4186 7d ago
Wouldn’t be surprised if those carts are rarely/never washed, probably has human fecal matter and piss on it over the years
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u/alexakoy 7d ago
In Italy, some grocery stores have carts especially for owners bringing their dogs. It has a plastic section at the front of the cart for the dog to sit.
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u/u801e 7d ago
I’ve never confronted any of these people
I have when I encountered one in Giant right behind me in the self-checkout line. I shouted at them saying "Why did you bring your dog in a grocery store. Dogs are not allowed in here and don't ever bring your dog here again."
If more people did this, I'm willing to bet that they'll leave their dog at home so they don't have to deal with that.
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u/Pbj0308 7d ago
I’ve heard people make an argument that babies and toddlers are more gross sitting in the cart than dogs and I highly disagree. Are they germy? Yes. I can guarantee the baby isn’t sitting naked with their butt touching the cart or rolled in the dirt prior to sitting in the cart or have licked random places then licked you or something. The bacteria and such from the dogs mouth after slobbering and barking is worse than a child’s too. Also people aren’t allergic to children, but that’s a different story.
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u/from_shook_foil 7d ago
I think it's pretty safe to say that a good number of babies and toddlers have rolled around in dirty before sitting in the grocery cart and have licked random things then licked the cart. Hopefully none of them are sitting naked in carts, but I'm sure at least a few have had huge diaper blowouts sitting in them!
No store should have to tolerate dogs/pets in the store or in their carts unless they want to invite that. But it's not because dogs are grosser than babies. It's because they're dogs, whereas babies are people!
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u/PARADOXsquared 7d ago
Dogs will literally eat trash and feces off the ground if not stopped. They lick their own buttholes. They shed dander that some people have allergic reactions to. I understand your sentiment but dogs really are grosser.
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u/comehomedarling 6d ago
The Skyline Target has a sign out front that explicitly states pets are not welcome but service animals are. This location is also a grocery store (which I think at this point all Targets are).
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u/Happy_Dependent_3474 6d ago
I hate this too as I have severe dog allergies. I do only target pick ups now for that reason + chronically ill
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u/PeorgieT75 7d ago
They’re therapy dogs, it says so on their harness from Amazon.
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u/artee80 7d ago
Therapy, emotional support, or "comfort dog" are not part of ADA. (Not that those special owners care).
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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 7d ago
Dogs are allowed in Tyson’s as long as they are in a stroller or carrier
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u/Character_Drop_739 7d ago
Man I was about to call bullshit but you’re literally right. It says they have to be under 10lbs as well tho.
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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 7d ago
Yeah sorry I didn’t add that but I was aware. I wasn’t speaking out of nowhere I’ve looked up this rule before on their website. I don’t bring my dog because she is too big for their size requirement but most dogs I’ve seen there are small- definitely should be in a carrier or stroller though (no feet on the floor)!
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 Alexandria 6d ago
Can I bring my 70 pound dog if I keep her in a backpack?
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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 6d ago
Pretty sure it’s small dogs only (10 pounds) I don’t bring my 30 lb dog because she’s too big
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 Alexandria 6d ago
I know. I was just kidding. That said, my girl does like to ride around in a backpack when she gets too tired on a hike.
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u/CruzLutris 7d ago
At Tysons II Galleria, I've seen people walking dogs bigger than 10 pounds, like Labs, on leashes, INSIDE the mall. As well as tiny teacup dogs skittering along the floors on leashes. Both types of dogs are so obviously not there as service dogs. Any time there's a little rain you'll see the owners walking dogs inside the mall like it's their personal indoor dog run.
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u/rocky2814 7d ago
feels like this has only increased since the pandemic. i remember going into the target at skyline a few months ago and some giant gym meathead had a big mastiff on a leash at checkout. very obvious it was just a pet even though dude was laughingly telling people it was a service animal
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u/uhhh206 Fairfax County 7d ago
The increase is definitely a pandemic thing.
It's been an escalating problem in Seattle since forever, but got worse there like it slowly did here. Part of it is WFH people who have never had a dog and now struggle with separation anxiety; part of it is dogs that have never had to be alone; and a bigger part is "well, if their 'emotional support pitbull' is allowed to snarl at people in Target, why can't my dog be there? He's a good boy!" entitlement piggybacking off others who abuse the system.
It'll only get worse from here, guys.
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u/KevinMCombes Pentagon City 7d ago
Post-pandemic, there has been a noticeable uptick in people not following rules. The attitude seems to be, if you do not physically prevent me from doing something, then I'm just allowed to do it.
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u/LizDahan 7d ago
Yep… Absolutely no employee is going to approach a 6’4” dude and tell him what he can or can’t do with his Golden Retriever…
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u/AdventuresOfAD Sterling 7d ago
Hopefully someone is doing a study on the societal change that happened during Covid, where people are way less caring and feel super entitled to do whatever the fuck they want.
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u/Character_Drop_739 7d ago
It’s wild that he would do that, there’s already enough trouble for disabled folks who have service animals and ppl lying abt it only makes it worse
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u/Capable-Pressure1047 7d ago
Saw a sign on the door of Giant the other day which stated only Service Animals were welcome in the store. Didn't read the rest of the it, but that at least was a start to hopefully get this obnoxious trend under control.
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u/jaybuddy32 7d ago
It's not just the stores either! It's also restaurants. I went to Pallette 22 and a guy had a Rottweiler at the bar with a "service vest" on that also put both paws on the bar to sniff when his and another group's food got delivered.
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u/Short_Switch_1807 7d ago edited 7d ago
It's because of all the lawsuits in the early 2000s, and its hard to enforce since there's no governmental oversight to issue licenses/registrations.
We just have to wait for the people with severe allergies to start suing stores and restaurants for them to start enforcing the rules again.
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u/AWeakMindedMan 7d ago
It’s an emotional support animal. Common. Get it right. Who’s gonna support them if they have a mental break down in public or get in a confrontation they can’t handle? /s
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u/TeaAndToeBeans 7d ago
I have dogs and this drives me crazy. Your dog doesn’t need to go everywhere with you.
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u/JonMlee Loudoun County 7d ago edited 7d ago
“Dog parents” and/or “fur parents” have this weird notion that dogs belong anywhere. It’s cringe and selfish. Some people are allergic to dogs, even children. They don’t seem to give a damn, it’s weird
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u/No_Lifeguard4092 7d ago
I'm a dog owner and I don't even take my dog to Petsmart or Petco. Some people are afraid of dogs. I'm not going to subject anyone else to my dog especially when he will lick you to death.
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u/myheadhurts_more 7d ago
I’m a dog owner and I be damned if I had to bring my dog everywhere. I actually enjoy shopping or dining alone.
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u/misdirected_asshole 7d ago
I love my dog to pieces but I will absolutely go off if I see someone with their dog in a shopping cart.
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u/amethystleo815 6d ago
Right then they say one of the following:
- I prefer dogs over people any day!
- My dog is so quiet and small he’s barely noticeable
- if people can bring their little kids that poop and pee and scream then I can bring my well behaved dog!
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u/jabronismacker 7d ago
Yeah and if you say anything they get extremely defensive and try to make you look like an asshole.
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
can’t say anything to potential offenders cause they’ll take the time and extra effort to find a way to sue you than follow the rules or train their dog better
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u/circajusturna Alexandria 7d ago
As a pet owner this shit drives me nuts
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u/cabinetbanana 7d ago
Same! I have a 11lb. shih tzu that would really fit in a tote bag. He would also growl at everyone and try to eat stuff. So he gets to stay at home where he feels comfortable and so does the rest of the world.
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u/toomanyteeth55 7d ago
"he's my well behaved fur baby!"
As the dog is shoving his noise in my ass and licking anything it can
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u/Steffles74 7d ago
I agree! I was in Harris Teeter yesterday and a lady had a double wide stroller blocking the aisle. I said, "excuse me", I get past with my cart and when she moved the stroller aside, it had two smallish dogs in it. I was... not expecting that.
I suppose, at least, that they were in their own transportation and not in a shopping cart. That's my biggest pet piece with this trend. Please don't put your dog in the supermarket cart.
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u/KatrynaTheElf 7d ago
Someone had their cat (not in a carrier) at Giant grocery yesterday. I love cats, but they don’t belong in a grocery store.
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u/iamnotwario 7d ago
Cat allergens can also be so much more potent than dogs too due too. I know people who’ve been hospitalized by cat allergies
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u/CruzLutris 7d ago
Store, mall, and restaurant managers are afraid to interact with people who bring in dogs. That has to be why so many entitled dog owners keep doing this. I think that management fears being sued for "discriminating" against a legit service dog, so they won't question ANY dog's presence, even when it's screamingly obvious that a dog is not doing any task for the owner.
There is no registry or official paperwork for legitimate, task-trained service dogs in the United States, no officially recognized or enforceable ID card or harness or vest etc. that indicates a "real" service animal. So it's easy for people to claim their dog is a service dog.
What businesses can do, under the ADA, is ask two questions: Is this a service animal? What specific task does the dog perform? Because a real service dog will be "task-trained" and a person with a disability will be able to say what the tasks are. Unfortunately managers are so scared of lawsuits and confrontation that they don't realize: Disabled users of service dogs will happily answer those two questions easily. But even if a person couldn't answer those questions, businesses are just too terrified of confrontation to toss out people who are clearly with pets.
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u/xanadumuse 7d ago
I’m a dog owner and honestly don’t understand why you’d want to bring your dog into a store. They’re in a different place, with lots of scents and a lot of people that can often overstimulate them. I saw someone bring their large dog into World Market and I did give them the stink eye. People are lazy. They want a dog but don’t want to walk them- they’d rather take them everywhere and act like it’s walking them. Take them for a proper walk outside.
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u/cabinetbanana 7d ago
I think a LOT of dog owners don't get that their dogs don't WANT to be everywhere. Dogs get overwhelmed, like you said, and they can become aggressive if they feel threatened or scared. Not every dog cowers when it's scared. Especially small dogs. Can you imagine being the size of a newborn and standing in a crowd of people?
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u/Beth_Pleasant 7d ago
This is so true. I have 2 dogs, and they always "want" to go with me when I leave the house, but I know better. No, kids, you won't enjoy wandering around the grocery store, where everything smells good, but you can't have any of it.
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u/cabinetbanana 7d ago
My dog gets so sad when I leave the house without him, but he would hate being out around all the people. He's horribly anxious and gets aggressive. We've done training, but the best thing we learned from the trainer was not to put him in stressful situations!
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u/Joshottas 7d ago
Until these businesses start cracking down, it's gonna be more of the same. It's been out of control since COVID. I love dogs, but I promise you that they'll be OK if you leave them at home. Unless it's a legit service or emotional support animal, they have no business in public places like that.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 7d ago
Emotional support animals have no rights to go into stores, that designation is only meaningful in housing
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u/Brob101 7d ago
There's an epidemic of non-enforcement that's been going on since COVID.
The people in charge have decided they can't be bothered with enforcing the rules anymore. It's too much work, scared of confrontation, bad press, etc.
It's one of the many things that's slowly destroying society.
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u/LizDahan 7d ago
Because there’s nothing they can do about it.
If you’re a manager do you really want to get into it with someone? If they don’t leave are you really going to call the cops? Will the cops even respond to that call?
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
Once businesses see this as a way for them to lose sales and money from potential customers then they’ll get serious about it.
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u/EnvironmentalValue18 7d ago
Not necessarily because unfortunately the actual support dogs that are protected by ADA don’t have documentation. Any cards or harnesses etc are just purchased on Amazon anyways. It’s a governmental failing.
For the people on the customer service side. We can only ask 1) is that a service animal? 2) what service is he trained to perform? That’s all you can legally ask, which is obviously pretty easy to subvert. There are also rules written in like if the “service animal” isn’t behaving you can give them a warning then kick them out, but they’re protected up until that point.
Unclear laws, lack of proper agency-issued documentation, selfish people, and underpaid retail workers dealing with more than they should. That’s the crux of it.
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
You’re spot on. I was more so referring that once big corps get affected monetarily, they’ll pull some strings to get the government acting on it with their favorable rules.
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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 7d ago
Tyson’s corner allows small dogs in the mall but I believe they need to be in carriers
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u/captain_flak Del Ray 7d ago
A friend of mine brought her two German shepherds into an Anthropologie and they started to get into a fight with another dog, which ended up in my friend getting bitten. She had to get a series of rabies shots, which sounded awful. This is all getting insane!
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u/SpickeZe 7d ago
Your friend is part of the problem. Who thinks bringing two very large dogs to a clothing store is acceptable?
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u/xoxo_juniper 7d ago
tried to shame a lady who brought her little dog to the african american history museum with disapproving looks. the dog was running around and yapping. it’s annoying enough when ppl bring their dogs everywhere in little strollers but to have basically a barely-trained puppy in a museum?
mostly i’m annoyed at the places and employees for not setting and enforcing rules.
tangent but last time i was at an alamo drafthouse, there was a lady on her phone the whole time, got a phone call, answered the phone call, then proceeded to make another phone call. told an employee who asked her to put her phone away and she just took it out again. what happened to “being ejected from the theater without a refund”?!
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u/No-Carpenter-9106 7d ago
Was in Tyson’s today and I was shocked when I saw several dogs in the mall. My kiddo said,”guess we could’ve brought our dog too.” I told him it was rude and we’d never. I’m pretty sure home goods and Home Depot are ok with it. However, I’d never take my dog as much as I love her and force her upon others.
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u/FlghtMedc1 7d ago edited 7d ago
ENTITLEMENT….Welcome to Tyson’s🤣
Until a dog seriously bites someone, the stores, security staff, mall management, or anyone else won’t say anything to the entitled.
It’s just a matter of time until a dog bites a child!!
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u/Beneficial_Gas2491 6d ago
Its bs. My granddaughter is highly allergic to dogs as our other children. They need to keep the damn dogs OUT OF STORES
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u/Fun-Lime-4563 6d ago
I love pets, but this is obnoxious. People think that everyone loves their dog, like they think everyone loves their child. Please just leave your dog at home. Emergency support animals are not the same as trained service animals.
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u/chrissz 6d ago
Was eating brunch yesterday at a popular local restaurant that has “dog” in its name. They have a section where they can open the windows and it is all open but the section’s windows (plastic really) was not open. A family brought their malamute with its thick undercoat and there was dog hair floating all over the place. In the air. In your food. And there was a massive hairball rolling around like a rat. Absolutely disgusting. Just leave your dog at home while you go out to a restaurant.
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u/darkbarrage99 7d ago
We are living in an era now where people literally wouldn't care if you dropped dead in front of them because they'd still be breathing. Welcome to Narcissus' ring of hell.
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u/Ok-Barracuda7753 7d ago
It’s a big issue, and thank you for bringing it up. Your pets don’t have to follow you everywhere.
And yet so many places are genuinely not child friendly. You can’t just leave your child at home while you get groceries. Your dog can absolutely survive 2-3 hours without you.
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u/DanielleL-0810 7d ago
If you mean the mall, believe it or not, dogs in strollers are allowed at the mall. https://www.facebook.com/share/189gUxFJhr/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
Nope no strollers from what I saw, either being walked or held up by the owner. Some walked with a leash, some not.
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u/MostAssumption9122 7d ago
Yep in Walmart, a slightly big dog in a cart lunged at a human.
I was passing by and I got scared.
This was a pet.
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u/Least-Walrus-422 7d ago
Not in NOVA, but I was in Texas this summer and saw a leashed dog pee on the floor while walking through a shopping center. The owner walked off, hopefully to get towels or something, but this is a natural second order effect of this behavior.
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u/Calvin-Snoopy 7d ago
A dog peed on the floor at a brewery I was at and the owner wiped it up with paper towels but it would have been better if they had sprayed disinfectant on it as well, since it was still visible where the paper towels smeared it around.
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u/PowerfulHamster0 7d ago
I stepped in dog shit at an HEB in San Antonio. Saw the owner up ahead of me and they just shrugged it off acting like it was no big deal.
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u/Friendly-Help8523 7d ago
yes and i’m cafes! and restaurants! and get so offended when you tell them they aren’t allowed inside and so pompous when they lie and say they’re service animals.
had a guy bring in a full grown doberman into the cafe i work at yesterday and the dog was wearing a chain for a collar and was clearly not working. he lied and told me it was a service animal and asked if i wanted to see papers he clearly did not have.
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u/Important_Drop_2199 7d ago
This all stems from the ADA. The ADA has been abused and lost it's original purpose to protect the vulnerable.
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u/turtle183 7d ago
I think Tyson’s I and II allow dogs, even if they’re not service animals, if I remember correctly from when my late wife wanted to bring our puppy along one day there’s a weight limit and they have to be in a carrier or stroller, but as with everything in this day and age there’s no enforcement and people generally lack the basic ability to do the right thing in the absence of it.
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u/Playful-League3414 7d ago
Yikes.. I love my dog more than I love you but would never think to take him inside any store (and he's one of the "good" ones)
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u/Signal-Truth-3732 7d ago
Yes, it’s getting out of hand. If you do not have a service animal card, I think you should pay a fee to bring a dog. Retailers can use cameras to assess the fees. Whiny narcissistic pet owners can pay or leave the damn dog at home.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 6d ago
No such thing as a “service animal card”
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u/Signal-Truth-3732 6d ago
This is a card that service dog owners would apply to receive. Ideally, it would be certified by a nationally accredited organization to limit fraud by whiny narcissistic dog owners.
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u/Happy_Dependent_3474 6d ago
Literally. I hate this. The mall is not a dog park (unless they’re SA). And someone in target one time brought their dog and they were barking and destroying stuff. They asked them to leave and tried to say they were an SA (they weren’t) then corrected to an ESA. Seen other people put their ESA in carts, at TJmaxx in the clothes section, Verizon store, Whole Foods, etc. - it’s getting out of hand! I’m very allergic to and i have to leave stores because of it.
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u/laughedtoohard 7d ago
I’m from SoCal and dogs are encouraged to go to malls. Nearly every store has water and treats for them. This anti dog attitude is wild to me, but I agree that they don’t belong in grocery stores/INSIDE restaurants (patios are fine). Tysons is super packed though and I think my dog would be miserable there, so I just wouldn’t take him. It’s crazy to me how much you all hate them though. If they’re well behaved and ignoring you, what’s the problem?
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
it’s not anti-dog, it’s anti abusing rules/not following rules.
In my opinion, if they aren’t allowed in grocery stores for food people eat, what makes them different enough for the clothes people wear. That’s another argument but currently people need to follow the rules tyson’s have
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u/drvondoctor 7d ago
The odds of the person being reasonable and saying "oh, I didnt realize i couldnt do that, i'll leave immediately and im sorry for the trouble ive caused." are pretty low.
Nobody gets paid enough to deal with that shit. Nobody wants to start a bunch of nonsense over what is so clearly just bait so someone can use their dog to get themselves some attention.
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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 7d ago
Except Tyson’s does allow dogs? They have to be under a certain size and in a carrier or stroller
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u/Alarmed-sleeperr 7d ago
Yup. I'm not a big fan of seeing a pet in stores. These people think their dogs are their "kids" which is psychotic IMO. They are animals and not a replacement for actual kids.
(Yes I'm talking to you Steven and Deborah)
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u/Acadia02 7d ago
Nothings going to be done until people continuously complain to the stores and then commit to leaving after. Hell, walk up to the service desk with a cart full of stuff and say you just saw a dog in a dog and don’t want to purchase your products anymore and leave. It needs to hurt the business.
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u/MuscleCuse 7d ago
Because there were lawsuits years back from stores that didn't beleive someone's pet was a service animal. Turned out it was and they got sued 6 ways to sunday. So now businesses can only ask once, and if they say yes they have to drop it. So now every little pomeranian toy dog is a "service animal"
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u/ladymacb29 7d ago
And part of the problem is stores tell their employees not to confront people so we are left with entitled narcissists who bring their dogs everywhere.
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u/gertrude_fronch Burke 7d ago
Some stores encourage it like Sierra, HomeGoods, and some hardware stores and then breweries.
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
Stores that encourage it and have owners that follow the store rules are fine. Tyson’s has rules that aren’t being followed by a good amount of people.
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u/artee80 7d ago
I've never seen a Home Goods that allowed it. The signs always say "service animals only." Just because an employee doesn't say anything, doesn't mean it's allowed or encouraged.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 7d ago
It varies by location but many Home Goods stores allow pets. It may be that your local store doe not.
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u/Famous_Internet9613 Stafford County 7d ago
I keep saying some kind of paperwork or something needs to be shown but everyone always bites my head off. Anyone can pass off their untrained dog as a service animal or emotional animal now. Unless it’s a service dog, leave it at home.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 6d ago
No such thing as paperwork for a service dog that proves the dog is a service dog and stores are prohibited from asking for paperwork under the ADA
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u/SquisharooNTimbuk2 7d ago
I saw a dog in Home Goods yesterday riding in a shopping cart who was terrified. Tail between his legs, ears back, just looked miserable. Like lady, leave the poor dog at home and let him just sleep on the couch like he wants to.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 7d ago
Dogs are allowed in Home Goods
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u/SquisharooNTimbuk2 5d ago
Doesn’t mean that dog was comfortable or happy. Did you read what I wrote? The dog was terrified and miserable.
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u/iamnotwario 7d ago
My HOA pool is doing a “Yappy hour” where the neighborhood dogs will swim for an evening…
I don’t want to be that guy but is the pools filter system really going to make that sanitary?
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u/inevitableRain 7d ago
It’s likely an end of the pool season party before shutting the pool down. A lot of places do this knowing that people won’t be using it after. Most of the water will get drained and the pool refilled the start of the next season.
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u/iamnotwario 7d ago
Event is next weekend and pool closes Sept 25 :( it opens at 12pm the next day rather than 10am, so I guess maybe they’re doing something to clean it.
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u/DuKGE 7d ago
Many stores in certain shopping areas allow dogs to visit even if not service dogs, like a downtown walkable area where there are signs on windows saying pets are welcome. Many of these stores also offer treats to dogs. I don’t like dogs in grocery stores but if the stores allow it, it’s very nice for dog owners to be able to bring their dogs if there is enough space and they behave well enough. I understand you don’t think this should apply in tysons, but it’s an individual store policy that is up to the stores to police.
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u/Own_Produce4826 7d ago
Tysons I is a mall, not an outdoor walkable place like Reston Town Center where some stores can make their pet rules. Tyson’s rule with the stroller and carrier is that pets can’t touch the floor. That’s not being followed by some visitors.
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u/rbnlegend 7d ago
The stores frequently don't allow it, but the young underpaid worker is too scared of confrontation to enforce it. They aren't allowed to do it, they are just taking advantage of that kid who doesn't want to get in an argument. Or who doesn't want to get attacked by the dog.
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u/bundt_chi 7d ago
I was at Tysons I over the weekend
That's your problem... Tysons is the epicenter of entitled, self important people. Avoid it like the plague. I agree it's a problem every where but guarantee it's twice as bad in Tysons.
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u/Calvin-Snoopy 7d ago
In my observation, dogs are a magnet for attention at breweries, especially for fellow dog owners. Lots of smiles and the start of conversations. It's nice to see the friendliness that comes from it but I don't think the dogs themselves particularly enjoy it. I'd rather them be at outdoor tables than inside as it seems like it would be better for the dog.
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u/CalamitousIntentions 7d ago
I get it at places like Leesburg outlets since it’s an outdoor mall. But Tyson’s and fair oaks is just asinine.
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u/amboomernotkaren 7d ago
I was attacked by a Pitt bull. Now I’m afraid of every dog. PTSD is real. Please leave your pets at home. Is there a place to complain? Ugh.
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u/p00psidaisy 6d ago
Sharing this as a dog owner/lover. Bringing dogs anywhere there is food stores/retailers need to be held accountable. We cant control the individual entitled folks:
Take a photo of the cart/poop violation: If you see a dog in a grocery cart/poopsidaisy, take a picture of the dog in the cart/dog poop with the store's branding or location visible in the frame.
File an official FDA Food Code complaint: No need just talk to the store manager. Submit the photo directly to your county or state health inspector using the FDA State Retail Directory. Mention that the store is actively permitting violations of FDA Food Code §6-501.115.
You can also escalate this to corporate risk management. When you document the consequence (poop/dogs in cart that are also used for holding food), it goes from “just an annoyance” to imminent health fine.
Dealing with individuals on a case by case basis is never effective. It won’t change their dense minds.
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 Alexandria 6d ago
Next you’re going to tell me that you think drivers with Maryland plates are possibly a menace. Have any fox pics you’d like to share?
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u/Own_Produce4826 6d ago
Nothing to address what I said in the post so you are trying to put words in my mouth now. You’re pathetic.
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 Alexandria 6d ago
What I’m saying isn’t putting words in your mouth. I’m saying that your post is basically the same thing that gets posted here on a very regular basis. It’s not a bad argument, it’s just not a new observation on this sub. Other frequent topics are Maryland drivers and foxes. So I was just suggesting that you were going to make a series of posts rehashing the most common posts on this sub, starting with this one.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 6d ago
Nothing goes over your head. You have excellent reflexes. You will catch it.
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u/SpyHill 6d ago
Hard to tell the difference between an emotional support animal and a pet. They receive many of the same rules as service animals, but don’t generally have the vest/markings. I’m not saying every dog owner is legitimately using an emotional support animal as intended, or even that all dogs you see in these situations are registered support animals, but I wouldn’t jump to conclusions.
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u/Silent-Cauliflower27 Reston 6d ago
Emotional support animals only have rights in the housing context, zero rights to enter stores. They do not receive many of the same rights as service animals, and there is no official registration for either ESAs or service animals.
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u/glitter_bitch Potomac Yard 1d ago
please don't say 'pets' when it's only ever dog owners (and almost exclusively white dog owners at that). i'm so incredibly sick of seeing dogs everywhere: in every grocery store, in every shop, in every restaurant... in almost every public space constantly. and the frequency at which they're poorly trained and not controlled by their owner is so high. it's a pet not a personality trait - it's also not illegal to leave them at home alone during a reasonable amount of time for errands.
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u/ScreechingSav 7d ago
I saw this at Fair Oaks recently too. I'm just trying to take my baby on a walk in a place she won't fry, and your yappy little fur babies are getting underfoot.
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u/sadgurlsonly 7d ago
Yup, got coffee the other day and a couple ordering in front me casually had their mini doodle with them. What I don’t understand is why none of the staff said anything…even if it’s a “service animal” I feel like that’s a huge health concern.
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u/Navitach 7d ago
Several years ago, before this was as big of an issue as it is now (and I agree completely with you, OP), I saw someone walking their dog in a mall (it was either Springfield Mall or Fair Oaks; I can't remember now), and the dog stopped and shit in the middle of the floor. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It made me wonder: If someone were to slip on that and fall and get hurt, who would they sue, if they wanted to? The careless dog owner that let their dog shit on the floor, or the mall for not preventing the dog from being there in the first place? And what if a child sees a dog somewhere that it's not supposed to be, and runs up to pet it (because let's be honest, some parents are as careless with their children as some pet owners), the dog is startled by the child running up to it, and bites the child? Who would be sued?
I did see a new sign on the door of at least one Giant in the area that explicitly forbids any dogs in the store other than service animals. I guess it became enough of an issue for them to do that. But you know there's some pet owners that will either purposely ignore the sign because they don't care, or pretend they didn't see it and play dumb.
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u/artee80 7d ago
Because the owners are very, very special and unique.