Is Meijer Pet-Friendly? Meijer Dog Policy Explained (Updated for 2022)

Any devoted pet owner wants to seize every opportunity that they can to bring their dog out in public with them. This means searching for dog-friendly stores and activities. Not only is it a chance to bond with your pup, but it’s also a great opportunity to socialize your dog and ensure it has frequent contact with other people and animals.

Unfortunately, Meijer is not a pet-friendly store. Since it is a grocery store, Meijer does not allow pet dogs inside the store. This is due to the food safety rules and regulations that grocery stores must follow. It’s not possible to bring a pet dog to your local Meijer store.

This is the short answer, but there is more to know. In this post, we are going to cover the Meijer pet policy, gain some understanding for why Meijer has the pet policy that it does, and give you some information about which well-behaved dogs are allowed in Meijer.

Meijer Pet Policy Explained

First thing’s first. Let’s get into the Meijer pet policy and go straight to the source. Here is the guidance that has been given by Meijer corporate:

“As of February 24, 2019, service animals are allowed in Meijer stores. Service animals must not be placed in shopping carts, cart seats, or otherwise come in direct contact with store shopping carts. Meijer will no longer permit service animals to ride inside the shopping cart, even with the use of a barrier, due to the requirements of health and safety regulations.” – Meijer Corporate

It’s pretty clear that Meijer does not want pets inside its stores. This applies to your local store. It’s great that Meijer has been able to give clear guidance about what they expect when it comes to animals in the stores. They answer your question: “Is Meijer dog-friendly?” with their statement.

Many stores do not give clear guidance and leave pet owners guessing, but Meijer has been able to make it clear that it is not a pet-friendly store. There are no dogs allowed in Meijer (even if you’re there to get dog supplies!). Even though this is disappointing for pet owners that want to bring their pets inside the store, we can still appreciate that they have given a clear and concise answer.

Dogs That Are Allowed in Meijer

Just because Meijer does not allow pet dogs and cats inside its stores does not mean that animals are banned altogether. There are actually a couple different animals that are allowed in Meijer stores, per ADA guidelines.

Service Dog

The first type of dog that will be allowed inside Meijer stores is a service dog. A service dog is a dog that has been specifically trained to assist a disabled person. The no pet dogs allowed policy doesn’t apply to a service dog.

These dogs are not considered to be pets, but rather they are working animals that provide a very important service to their owners. Service dogs are allowed in Meijer stores because they are classified as assistance animals.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that businesses make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. This includes allowing service dogs inside the store, even if the store has a no pets policy.

Service animals must have a specific set of training in order to be considered a service animal by the ADA.

Guide Dogs

Another type of animal that is permitted in Meijer stores is guide dogs. Guide dogs are also referred to as seeing eye dogs.

These dogs are specially trained to help people that are blind or have low vision. Guide dogs provide their owners with mobility assistance and help them to navigate their environment.

Like service animals, guide dogs are not considered to be pets. They are working animals that provide an important service to their owners.

Guide dogs are allowed in Meijer stores because they are classified as assistance animals. They are afforded the same ADA protections as service dogs.

Dogs That Are Not Allowed in Meijer

Unfortunately, there are way more dogs that are not allowed in Meijer than are allowed in Meijer. Here are some of the types of dogs that are not allowed in Meijer stores and why.

Pet Dogs

The most common type of dog that is not allowed in Meijer stores is the pet dog. Pet dogs are dogs that have not been specifically trained to perform a job or task.

These dogs are typically owned for companionship or recreation. Even though pet dogs make great companions, they are not allowed in Meijer stores.

The reason pet dogs are not allowed in Meijer stores is because they are not service animals. Meijer has a strict no pets policy, so pet dogs are not permitted inside the store.

Therapy Dogs

Another type of dog that is not allowed in Meijer stores is the therapy dog. Therapy dogs are dogs that have been specifically trained to provide comfort and support to people that are dealing with a variety of different issues.

Therapy dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other places where they can provide comfort and support to people in need.

Even though therapy dogs provide a valuable service, they are not allowed in Meijer stores. This is because they are not service animals and they are not classified as assistance animals.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are animals that provide companionship and emotional support to people that have mental health disorders.

ESAs are typically dogs, but they can also be cats, rabbits, pigs, and even reptiles.

Many people try to enter stores like Meijer with ESAs by claiming they are service animals, but they are not certified as such and are therefore not allowed access into Meijer stores.

Reasons for Meijer’s Not Dog-Friendly Pet Policy

Even though it is disappointing that Meijer stores do not make accommodations for pet owners, it’s hard to argue that they don’t have their reasons. A grocery store is no place for a pet. Here are some of the reasons for the Meijer pet policy that prohibits pet dogs.

Food Safety

The primary reason that Meijer does not allow dogs inside its stores is for food safety. Meijer is a grocery store, and as such, it sells food.

Allowing pet dogs inside the store would create a serious food safety hazard. Dogs are known to carry bacteria and other contaminants on their fur. If a dog came into contact with food, that food would be contaminated and could make people sick.

To avoid this food safety hazard, Meijer has a strict no pets policy. This policy helps to ensure that the food sold in Meijer stores is safe for consumption.

Shopper Safety

Another reason that Meijer does not allow pets is that it is best for shopper safety. Pets can be unpredictable, and even the friendliest dog can bite or scratch if it feels threatened.

Allowing pet dogs inside the store would increase the risk of shopper injury. In order to protect shoppers from being injured by a pet dog, Meijer has a no pets policy.

Local & State Regulations

The final important reason that Meijer refuses to allow dogs inside its stores is that many local and state regulations prohibit pets inside grocery stores.

These regulations are in place to protect shoppers from the health hazards that pet dogs can pose. Meijer is required to follow these regulations, and allowing pet dogs inside the store would be a violation of these regulations.

Rules for Dogs in Meijer

To this point, we have established that only service animals and guide dogs are allowed in Meijer stores. However, this doesn’t mean that there still aren’t rules for these dogs when they are inside Meijer stores.

Anyone that wants to bring a dog into Meijer will have to follow these rules, or they could be asked to leave.

Dogs Must Be Well-Behaved

The first rule is that a service or guide dog that enters Meijer needs to be well-behaved. This means that the dog needs to be under the control of its owner at all times. The dog should not be barking excessively, running around, or jumping on people.

No Service Animals in Carts

Meijer has also given guidance that service dogs are not to be allowed to be inside carts. This is for the safety of both the dog and the shoppers. Meijer has drawn specific attention to this rule, so it must be important to them. The most likely reason is to prevent the spread of contamination or allergies.

Stores With Similar Policies

Pet owners are likely to be disappointed with Meijer’s pet policy, but it’s not an uncommon policy. Many similar stores have adopted a similar policy. Walmart’s pet policy also places a ban on animals that are not service animals or guide dogs. Costco also prohibits pet dogs and adopts a similar policy to Meijer.

The Bottom Line

Meijer’s no-pets policy is in place for the safety of shoppers and to comply with local regulations. Service animals are the only exception to this policy. All other pets, including cats, are not allowed inside Meijer stores.

If you have a pet that you need to bring with you to Meijer, make other arrangements!