Is BJ’s Dog-Friendly? BJ’s Wholesale Pet Policy Explained [Updated for 2022]

BJ’s wholesale is one of the largest wholesale grocery clubs in the US. As such, they are also one of the most popular places to buy food and supplies for your pet.

This frequently-visited store is also a very pleasant place to go shopping for an afternoon. Because of this, pet owners want to know: “Is BJs dog-friendly?”. Let’s get right down to it.

BJ’s Wholesale is not a dog-friendly store. Pets are not allowed to come inside the store, per their corporate pet policy. The only exception to this policy is for a service dog and guide dogs, which are protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

That’s a general overview of BJ’s policy, but there is a lot more to know. In this post, we will cover the BJ’s pet policy in depth, talk about why they have the pet policy that they do, and give you the information that you need to know if you are wondering if you can bring your dog to BJ’s Wholesale.

BJ’s Wholesale Pet Policy Explained

Still have question about the BJ’s Wholesale pet policy? That’s great! It’s always good to know as much as possible about the pet policy for the store that you want to visit. A responsible pet owner and curious dog owners will always want to know about the rules of their local store before traveling to that store with their dog, especially if they do not have a service animal and instead have an emotional support animal or pet dog.

Not all stores are dog-friendly stores or welcome dog lovers to bring their dog shopping. Information is very valuable. In this section, we are going to break down what is and isn’t allowed when it comes to BJ’s Wholesale.

Dogs That Are Allowed

First, we are going to cover which dogs are allowed in BJ’s Wholesale stores. These are dogs that are legally required to be allowed in retail stores and grocery stores for the benefit of their owners.

Service Dogs

The first type of dog that is allowed in BJ’s Wholesale are service dogs. Service dogs are dogs that are specially-trained to provide assistance to their owners with disabilities. These dogs are protected under the ADA, and all retailers must allow them in the store, regardless of any other policies they have instituted.

Service dogs are allowed in BJ’s because they help fellow shoppers perform essential tasks and ensure safety while doing them.

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are another class of dog that is allowed in BJ’s Wholesale clubs. These dogs are specially-trained to help visually impaired people get around and recognize obstacles in their path. Like service dogs, guide dogs are protected under the ADA and must be allowed in any retail store or business that is open to the public.

Dogs That Are Not Allowed

Now, let’s talk about which dogs are not allowed in BJ’s. There are more dogs that are not allowed in BJ’s than those that are allowed in BJ’s.

Pet Dogs

Pet dogs are not allowed in BJ’s Wholesale. There are a number of reasons for this. First, pets can be unpredictable and could potentially cause a disruption or safety issue. Second, BJ’s Wholesale is a grocery store, so it is important to keep the floors and shelves clean for other customers.

You shouldn’t try to attempt to bring your dog to BJ’s, unless you are headed for a dog-friendly area of the store (perhaps the patio).

Other Pets

Dogs are not the only pets that aren’t allowed in BJ’s Wholesale retail locations. Other pets such as cats, birds, reptiles, rodents, and more are also prohibited from entering the store.

Emotional Support Animals

For many stores, whether Emotional Support Animals are allowed is often a gray area. BJ’s has made their policy clear, but some people still believe that ESAs are service animals.

Emotional Support Animals are not technically service animals, and they are therefore not allowed to enter BJ’s Wholesale clubs. They are not provided with the same protection under the ADA as service animals and guide dogs.

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are another type of dog that there is some controversy about. Therapy dogs are dogs that are specially-trained to provide comfort and support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other places.

Therapy dogs are not allowed in BJ’s Wholesale as they do not fall under the ADA protections for service and guide dogs. There is also the issue of safety, as therapy animals may be unfamiliar with the store environment and could cause a disruption.

Having a dog that is a therapy dog is not a valid reason to bring them to a BJ’s Wholesale, in the eyes of their corporate policy.

BJ’s Pet Policy Guidance

The best way to learn about what isn’t and is allowed is to go straight to the source. In this case, that’s the corporate and social media team of BJ’s.

BJ’s Wholesale has given guidance on its pet policy many times, since there are lots of inquiries about the pet policy. So, we have many examples of this policy to look at.

The most important is this response directly from the BJ’s social media team. In the screenshot below, you can see that BJ’s forbids pets from coming into the building.

Reasons for the BJ’s Wholesale Pet Policy

For pet owners that like to bring their dog to the store, it may be disappointing to find out that BJ’s Wholesale does not allow pets to come into the store.

As disappointing as it may be, there are good reasons for the policy. Here are some of the reasons that BJ’s does not allow pets into their clubs.

Hygiene & Sanitation

The main reason that BJ’s doesn’t want dogs in their stores is that dogs carry germs and bacteria, and BJ’s serves a lot of food items.

BJ’s wants to keep their stores as clean and sanitary as possible, so they do not allow pet dogs in the store.

Safety of Fellow Shoppers

Another reason that BJ’s does not allow pets is for the safety of other shoppers. Dogs can be unpredictable and could cause a disruption or worse, an injury if another customer got too close.

By having a clear no pets policy, BJ’s can ensure that everyone shopping in the store is safe and secure.

Federal and Local Regulations

Even if BJ’s wanted to allow dogs in all their stores, the store manager would not be allowed to due to regulations that prohibit dogs to be in an establishment that will serve food. BJ’s doesn’t even allow well-behaved dogs because they serve fresh food and have many food items for sale.

There are many federal and local regulations that will overrule even a dog-friendly policy as it prevents a health risk to customers.

Damage to Goods

Another priority for BJ’s is that they want to keep products from being damaged. The best way to do this is to disallow dogs from entering the store. This is to make sure that their merchandise remains undamaged and in good condition.

At its core, BJ’s is a business. That means they care deeply about saving money. Allowing dogs into their store would put that mission at risk, and that is why they are not allowed in the stores.

How to Bring Your Dog to BJ’s

If you are insistent upon bringing your dog to BJ’s on your shopping trip, you should know that it isn’t possible to bring them inside the store without breaking store policy.

However, some BJ’s do offer a pet-friendly outdoor patio seating area. If there is a patio seating area at your BJ’s, you can sit outside and wait for your family or friends who are shopping inside.

It’s important that all dogs brought to the outdoor pet-friendly areas remain leashed and well-behaved.

Stores With Similar Pet Policies

If you aren’t understanding the BJ’s pet policy, then you might want to learn more about other stores’ pet policies. There are a couple of stores that have similar pet policies and there are others that have very different policies.

One example of a store that takes a very different approach is Ace Hardware. Ace Hardware stores allow pets basically all of the time! They are different than BJ’s Wholesale Club, however, since they are a hardware store and sell very few groceries and no fresh food.

If you’re looking for a store that takes a similar approach as BJ’s, then look no further than Publix. Publix does not allow pets and has a very strict no-pet policy.

Let’s Recap

So, there you have it. Even though BJ’s Wholesale is not a pet-friendly store, it’s a great place to shop. Being able to bring your dog to the store with you is great, but that’s just simply not the case with BJ’s.

Next time you need to run to BJ’s for some dog supplies or groceries, be sure to leave your furry friend safe and sound at home. Thanks for reading!