Does Sam's Club Allow Dogs? (2023 Policy)

Does Sam's club allow dogs in their store? Is an emotional support dog allowed in Sam's Club? Sam’s Club is a membership warehouse club owned and operated by Walmart. It was founded in 1983 and named after Walmart founder Sam Walton. Sam’s Club offers members both online and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences, with over 600 locations across the United States.

Membership to Sam’s Club is not required to shop at the retailer, but member benefits include access to exclusive sales, early shopping hours, and special financing options. In addition to general merchandise, Sam’s Club also sells groceries, gas, and travel services.

The company has come under fire in recent years for its employment practices, wage structure, and impact on local communities. However, Sam’s Club remains a popular shopping destination for millions of Americans.

Does Sam’s Club allow dogs?

Walking into a store with your loyal furry friend by your side feels wonderful. The fresh air, new smells, and explore-worthy aisles are tempting to any pup. However, not all stores are created equal when it comes to their pet policies. So, does Sam’s Club allow dogs?

Unfortunately, Sam's Club does not allow dogs in any of their locations. However, service dogs who are working are allowed. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows service dogs in Sam's Club, but emotional support animals are not permitted. While it may be disappointing to hear that Fido can’t come inside with you on your next shopping trip, there are still ways to include your dog in the fun!

If the weather is nice, try tie-dying some bandanas together while you wait in the car or play a game of catch in the parking lot. If it’s too hot or cold outside, look up dog-friendly cafes in the area and take a break for some puppy playtime and people watching. No matter what, spending time with your furry friend is always a good time.

Is it legal to attend Sam's Club with a Service Animal?

Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, requires all organizations that serve the public must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities. So yes, Sam's Club does allow service animals. Service dogs are different from companion dogs in the sense that they are specifically trained to help perform tasks for a handler with a disability.

If you have a service animal, he or she is always welcome at any Sam's Club location. On Sam's Club's official website, they state that "a person with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal will be allowed access to all areas of the premises that are open to members and guests." If you have any questions or concerns about bringing your service animal into Sam's Club, it is best to contact the store ahead of time. You can find contact information for each store on Sam's Club's official website.

“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 dogs are not 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.

The most frequent reasons Sam's Club refuses to allow canines in their stores are:

• 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

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. In addition, dogs can be disruptive and cause safety concerns in a busy retail environment. For these reasons, Sam’s Club has a no-dogs policy with some exceptions for service animals.

Do you need to have the documentation for a service dog to visit sam's club?

Sam’s Club does not require any specific documentation to prove that your dog is a service animal. However, it is recommended that you have some form of documentation, such as licensing papers or certification from an agency, to show that your dog is indeed a service animal.

Additionally, it can be helpful to have your dog wear a harness or some other type of indicator that he or she is a service animal. This will help to avoid any potential confusion or difficulty when entering the Sam’s Club store. Remember, Sam’s Club employees are not allowed to ask you to prove whether or not your dog is a service animal, so you should not have any trouble bringing your service dog into the store without any issue.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

According to the ADA, businesses are not allowed to ask questions about an individual’s disability, but they are permitted to ask two questions about the service animal: 1) Is your dog a service animal? and 2) What kind of work is your dog trained to perform?

If a Sam’s Club employee asks any other questions about the service animal, it is seen as a violation of ADA laws and regulations. Sam’s Club is committed to creating an inclusive shopping experience for everyone, and we thank you for adhering to these guidelines.

Is it permissible to bring an emotional support dog into Sam's Club?

Service dogs are highly trained and skilled at performing tasks that their owners with disabilities need help with on a daily basis. Emotional support dogs, however, are not trained to perform any specific tasks. They provide companionship and emotional support for their owners who may be suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. Even though emotional support dogs can provide much-needed support and companionship, they are not permitted in Sam’s Club locations because they are categorized as pets rather than as service animals.

Is it legal to bring your dog to the grocery shop?

While you may be used to seeing service dogs in grocery stores, you might be wondering if any stores allow dogs inside for shopping trips. Unfortunately, because grocery stores sell food in an enclosed public area, it is unlikely you will find any stores that allow dogs inside that do 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, and 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 for food retailers. For this reason, it is best to leave your furry friend at home the next time you go grocery shopping.

Conclusion

Sam’s Club only allows service dogs into their stores for health and safety reasons. However, they offer curbside pickup and delivery services through the Instacart app so that you can still enjoy their products without having to leave your dog at home.

A curbside pickup is a great option if you need your items right away, and delivery is a convenient choice if you want to schedule your order ahead of time. either way, Sam’s Club makes it easy to get the items you need without having to leave your furry friend behind.