Pet parents, rejoice — you won’t have to leave your pup in the car (which can be dangerous!) or at home on your next shopping trip if you plan to visit one of these pet-friendly stores.
While not every store in existence will allow your fuzzy friend to come inside, it’s always good to know about the ones that do so you can plan accordingly.
I’ve got the full list of which stores allow pets and how you can find other pet-friendly businesses near you, as well.
Keep in mind that pet policies between locations may vary since each store follows their own local health codes. You’ll need to contact the stores near you to confirm their specific policies about bringing non-service animals inside.
Before we get into our list, make sure your pet behaves well and has a leash.
Most pet-friendly stores allow shoppers to bring only one dog, which must be well-behaved and leashed. Some stores allow pet carriers instead of leashed animals. Stores also expect your pet to be up-to-date on all vaccinations. You should never leave your pet unattended, and of course, you’ll want to clean up after your pet if necessary.
Most pet supply stores allow pets.
Many of the major pet stores like Petco, PetSmart, and Pet Supplies Plus allow you to bring your pet in for services and in-store shopping. And for the occasional treat at the register.
Are pets allowed in Petco? Yes.
Yes, Petco allows pets in stores as long as they’re domesticated, licensed, and vaccinated. They must also be restrained on a leash, in a carrier, or in a travel habitat, according to Petco’s FAQ page.
Are pets allowed in PetSmart? Yes.
You bet. PetSmart allows leashed dogs as long as they’re vaccinated. PetSmart’s in-store pet policy says you can even bring your bird, ferret, sugar glider, or pot-bellied pig into a store!
Many home improvement stores are pet-friendly.
Whether you’re shopping for lumber, mulch, or paint, you can take your dog into popular home improvement and hardware stores, such as Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Tractor Supply Co. The pet policy at Rural King varies depending on your location (thanks to Krazy Coupon Lady reader Linda for this point). Here are the top home improvement stores and their pet policies:
Is The Home Depot pet-friendly? Depends on your location.
Although the official dog policy at The Home Depot states that only service dogs are permitted, many stores will allow pets regardless of their status. Check with your local Home Depot store before you go to see if they allow pets.
Are dogs allowed in Lowe’s? At many stores, yes.
At many stores, yes! Lowe’s makes their pet policy a little clearer than The Home Depot does. Just put in your ZIP code on their store finder page to see if Lowe’s allows pets at your local store. Go to “View Store Details” to pull up the store information page, then look under the “Store Features” section to see if it says Dog-Friendly. If it does, you’re in luck!
More than 100 Lowe’s locations also have a Petco store-within-a-store. Eventually, more than 300 Lowe’s stores will have a mini Petco store inside, with a curated selection of food, health, and wellness supplies.
TIP: If you’d prefer to stay in the car with your dog, check out our complete guide to how to use Lowe’s curbside pickup.
Are pets allowed in Tractor Supply? Yes. (Goats, too!)
Yes, pets are allowed at Tractor Supply Co. stores.
Many shoppers bring their dogs, goats, horses, and even pigs inside with them. Just make sure they’re leashed and friendly. Search for your local store online to see if they have handy in-store services like a pet wash station and vaccination clinics, where you can get rabies shots for super cheap!
Does Ace Hardware allow dogs? Yes.
While you won’t find their pet policy posted online, Ace Hardware does allow pets inside their stores. Since each store is individually owned and operated, you may want to call in advance to confirm.
Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target? Not pet-friendly stores.
Retailers have secrets; one being that they don’t all welcome pets. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers it a big no-no to mix grocery products with animals. Service dogs are the exception. Let’s look at the policies at the major big-box stores:
Are dogs allowed in Walmart? No.
Contrary to popular belief, Walmart stores don’t allow non-service animals inside, according to their corporate policy.
Can you bring dogs into Target? Nope.
Nope. Leave your pet at home for your next Target run, as pets aren’t allowed inside Target stores, since they sell groceries.
TIP: You can stay in your car and use Target Drive Up to get your goodies delivered right to your parking spot.
Are dogs allowed in Costco? No.
Pets aren’t allowed in Costco stores. If you’re bringing a service animal inside, a Costco employee may ask you which task or function your pet helps you to perform. Read their official policy here.
TIP: Stay in the car and get your Costco order delivered right to you with Costco’s curbside pickup service.
Does Ikea allow dogs? No.
Ikea doesn’t allow pets in stores unless they qualify as fully trained, ADA service animals. Emotional support animals don’t count.
Are dogs allowed in Sam’s Club? No.
Sam’s Club doesn’t allow pets except for service animals. But according to their policy, Sam’s Club associates don’t need to see documentation if you have a service animal …
TIP: If you have a Sam’s Plus membership, you can get free Sam’s Club curbside pickup.
Is BJ’s dog friendly? Nope.
No, pets can’t go in BJ’s Wholesale Club because they sell food on the premises.
Clothing retailers like Gap, Old Navy, and Nordstrom Rack do make the list of pet-friendly stores.
I found several popular clothing stores that welcome pets, with some employees joking that I could only bring my dog if they could pet her. Be sure to double-check with your local store to confirm their rules.
Check out these popular pet-friendly clothing stores:
- Ann Taylor
- Anthropologie
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Banana Republic
- Bloomingdale’s
- Gap
- L.L.Bean
- Loft
- lululemon
- Macy’s
- Madewell
- Marshall’s
- Nordstrom
- Nordstrom Rack
- Old Navy
- Saks Fifth Avenue
Specialty stores like Apple, Hobby Lobby, and T.J.Maxx also allow pets.
Bringing my dog to the Apple Store, a craft store, or a bookshop sounds like a dream to me! Did you know pets can go inside Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Barnes & Noble, too? I brought my doggo into O’Reilly Auto Parts once, and the whole staff gathered around to teach him a new trick and reward him with treats.
I checked around and found a wide range of specialty stores that allow pets:
- Academy Sports + Outdoors
- Apple Store
- Barnes & Noble
- Bass Pro Shops
- Bath & Body Works (standalone locations, not mall stores)
- Buybuy Baby
- Cabela’s
- Camping World
- Foot Locker
- Half Price Books
- Hallmark
- Hobby Lobby
- Joann Fabrics
- Michaels
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Ross
- Sephora
- T.J.Maxx
- Urban Outfitters
- Warby Parker
Some home decor stores like Pottery Barn and HomeGoods allow pets.
Not many home stores welcome pets, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering that pets could take out breakable items with just a wag of their tail.
These popular home stores allow pets (as long as you can keep their tail-wagging under control):
Pet policies at drugstores depend on the store manager.
Pharmacies big and small typically only allow service dogs. However, after speaking with reps from each pharmacy chain, not many of them had an official pet policy. Most told me that the store manager decides the pet policy, so you’ll need to contact your local CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid to ask whether they allow pets inside or not.
TIP: If you need items delivered from a pharmacy near you, check out our oh-so-helpful guide to all the stores with same-day delivery.
You can use BringFido.com to find pet-friendly stores near you.
BringFido.com can help you locate large and small pet-friendly stores in your area. Just go to the “Services” tab and enter your city and state to find nearby businesses that allow pets.
Don’t try to bring your pet to a grocery store — unless they’re a service animal.
Due to FDA regulations, pets aren’t permitted in grocery stores. Service animals are the exception.
These are a few of the grocery stores that DON’T allow pets inside (unless they’re service animals):
- Albertsons
- Fred Meyer
- King Soopers
- Kroger
- Ralphs
- Safeway
- Trader Joe’s
- Publix
Do you shop at any other stores that welcome pets? If so, please share in the comments below!
Tell us what you think