Dogs bring fun, excitement, and plenty of laughter into their owners’ lives. As one of the most popular pets to own, most of us take our dogs with us whenever possible.
Sam’s Club is a huge warehouse retailer that carries everything from paper products to groceries. So, you may be wondering if Sam’s Club allows you to take your dog with you on your shopping trip.
Here is everything you must know about Sam’s Club’s pet policy in their stores.
Does Sam’s Club Allow Dogs?
Unfortunately, Sam’s Club does not permit dogs in any of its stores. However, there is one exception to this rule, which is dogs working as service animals. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are allowed in Sam’s Club, but emotional support dogs are not.
To find out what defines a service dog and why Sam’s Club does not allow emotional support dogs in their stores, continue reading!
Does Sam’s Club Allow Service Animals?
According to federal law, service dogs are permitted to be in public areas, including every Sam’s Club location.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, requires all organizations that serve the public must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities.
Service dogs are much different from companion dogs. For example, a service dog is specifically trained to help perform tasks for a handler with a disability.
So, if your dog is a service animal, he or she is always welcome at any Sam’s Club location. In fact, Sam’s Club’s official store policy addresses the matter directly.
“Service animals play an important role to help ensure the independence of people with various disabilities. Therefore, it is our policy to welcome into our Club any animal that is individually trained to assist a person with a disability.”
Why Aren’t Dogs Allowed In Sam’s Club?
Although service dogs are welcome into Sam’s Club, companion dogs and other pets are not.
The main reason Sam’s Club does not permit dogs in their stores is to protect the health of shoppers and employees.
For example, because Sam’s Club sells fresh foods, a major health violation would occur if dogs were always near the food. Dogs in the close presence of food could potentially lead to the spread of disease and germs.
Dogs are also not allowed in Sam’s Club to prevent the spread of pet dander, which could trigger severe allergies in both employees and other shoppers.
Other common reasons Sam’s Club does not allow dogs in their stores include:
- Potential complaints from Sam’s Club shoppers
- Spread of ticks and fleas into the store
- Prevent untrained dogs from relieving themselves on the floor
- Dogs may cause damage to items in the store
- Prevent fights between dogs
Overall, Sam’s Club is simply protecting the health of its customers and employees by preventing dogs from entering the store.
Do You Need To Have Documentation To Bring A Service Dog To Sam’s Club?
Surprisingly, you do not need to present documentation to a Sam’s Club employee to prove your dog is a service animal.
Documentation includes licensing papers, the dog’s certification with an agency, and a harness or sign that your dog is, in fact, a service animal.
Although a harness is not a requirement, it can be more practical and convenient for your dog to wear a harness to indicate that he or she is a service dog clearly.
Additionally, Sam’s Club employees are not allowed to ask you to prove whether or not your dog is a service animal, per ADA regulations.
There are only two questions Sam’s Club employees are permitted to ask you regarding your service dog. The first question is, “Is your dog a service animal?”
The second question the federal law allows a Sam’s Club employee to ask is, “What kind of work is your dog trained to perform?”
Any other inquiries are seen as a violation of ADA laws and regulations.
Can You Bring An Emotional Support Dog Into Sam’s Club?
Initially, it may seem like emotional support dogs, and service dogs are essentially the same kind of dog.
However, service dogs go through months of specialized training to perform specific tasks for their owners with disabilities. Emotional support dogs, on the other hand, do not.
Therefore, emotional support dogs are not permitted in any Sam’s Club location because they are categorized as pets and not as service animals.
Are There Any Grocery Stores That Allow Dogs Inside?
Because grocery stores sell food in an enclosed public area, it is unlikely you will find any stores that allow dogs inside that are not service animals.
Some examples of stores similar to Sam’s Club that also do not permit dogs inside include:
- Costco
- Walmart
- Whole Foods Market
- Aldi
- Trader Joe’s
If these stores were dog friendly, the likelihood of disease, germs, and allergens spreading would increase dramatically.
The main focus of Sam’s Club and its competitors is to keep everyone safe while following the standard health and safety protocols.
Can You Get Products From Sam’s If You Have A Dog With You?
If you still want to buy products from Sam’s Club but also wish to take your dog with you, don’t worry! This is certainly possible.
Sam’s Club offers curbside pickup at no additional cost to all of its members. Use Sam’s Club’s app to pick out which items you would like.
When your order is ready, the app will send you a notification. Then, drive to your local Sam’s Club and check in to notify them you are ready.
Additionally, you can get your order from Sam’s Club delivered right to your door with the Instacart app. Instacart allows you to shop from the comfort of home, never having to leave your furry friend!
If you are looking to learn more about shopping at Sam’s Club, you can see our related posts on whether or not IKEA, Kroger, and Dollar General allow dogs.
Conclusion
Sam’s Club only allows service dogs into their stores. All other dogs, including emotional support dogs, are not permitted in Sam’s Club for health and safety reasons.
If you don’t want to leave your dog for even a moment, Sam’s Club offers curbside pickup services as well as delivery through the Instacart app.
