Can You Take Your Dog Into Hobby Lobby? Here's the Store's Pet Policy

If you’re a pet owner who likes to take your dog with you while you run errands, you may be wondering if you can bring your furry friend into the arts and crafts store Hobby Lobby. Although Hobby Lobby does not have a pet policy on its website, customer feedback suggests that dogs are not allowed in most of the chain’s stores unless they are service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We’ll take a closer look at the many customer reviews and comments from people who have visited Hobby Lobby stores in different parts of the country to get a better idea of the store’s unofficial pet policy. We’ll also consider Hobby Lobby’s policies in light of other major retailers’ practices and the ADA’s regulations regarding service animals and public access.

Differences in Pet Policies Between Hobby Lobby Stores

Although Hobby Lobby doesn’t have a company-wide pet policy, store managers can decide whether or not to allow pets in their locations. As a result, some stores may allow dogs and other pets, some may only allow service animals as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and some may ban pets altogether.

Local health codes and laws can also play a role, especially in stores with food departments. Therefore, it’s important to call your local Hobby Lobby to find out their pet policy before you bring your pet to the store.

Customer feedback shows that Hobby Lobby’s pet policy can vary widely between locations. Some customers have reported that they’ve been able to bring their dogs into certain stores without any problems, while others have been told that pets are not allowed unless they are service animals. There have even been instances where emotional support animals have been allowed even though they weren’t service animals.

This inconsistency shows why it’s so important to check with your local Hobby Lobby to find out their pet policy. While the company may have a preference for whether or not pets are allowed, the final decision is up to each store and its manager.

Legal Considerations: Service Animals and the Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that businesses, including Hobby Lobby, allow service animals in public accommodations. The EEOC notes that this also means that businesses must make reasonable accommodations for employees who need to use a service animal.

In the case of the EEOC’s lawsuit against Hobby Lobby, the company refused to let an employee bring her service dog to work, citing safety concerns. As HR Dive explains, Hobby Lobby ended up settling the lawsuit for $50,000, which shows just how important it is for businesses to follow the ADA’s service animal guidelines.

It’s also important to note that the ADA only protects service animals, not emotional support animals. As SHRM points out, the ADA only covers service animals that have been trained to perform specific tasks. It’s unclear whether Hobby Lobby’s policy on emotional support animals is consistent across all of its locations.

To make sure that customers with service animals have a positive shopping experience, they should be ready to provide documentation if it’s requested and comply with any store-specific requirements. By making sure they’re following the ADA’s rules, Hobby Lobby and other retailers can make sure they don’t run into legal trouble and meet the needs of all of their customers.

Etiquette for Shopping With Dogs at Hobby Lobby

If you plan to shop with your dog at Hobby Lobby, it's important to make sure your pet is well-behaved and doesn't cause any disruptions. Rover.com notes that dogs must be on a leash and that owners should make sure their pets don't cause any problems or messes that could inconvenience other customers.

There is some controversy over whether or not it's acceptable to put small dogs in shopping carts. While it may be more convenient, Brave Pup warns that it can be dangerous for the dog, such as if their paw gets caught in the cart, and that it can also be inconvenient for the store if the dog sheds in the cart. Instead, the site suggests carrying small dogs or using a pet carrier if shopping carts aren't allowed.

In the end, it's up to pet owners to be mindful of the store's policies and other customers. US Service Animals explains that it's important to make sure you're following the store's policies and any other rules or regulations they may have in place to ensure that everyone has a positive experience.

Hobby Lobby's Policy in the Context of Other Retailers

The popularity of pet-friendly stores has grown in recent years, and many retailers have realized the potential benefits of allowing pets that are well-behaved. Catster notes that this can improve the customer experience, increase brand loyalty, and even boost in-store visits. Still, Hobby Lobby's informal pet policy is very different from the more formal policies of many other major retailers.

While stores like Petco and Lowes have official pet policies that are clearly pet-friendly, Sidewalk Dog explains that Hobby Lobby's pet policy is left up to individual store managers. This lack of uniformity can be problematic since retailers need to find a way to make pet owners feel welcome while also addressing concerns about liability, cleanliness, and the impact on other customers. The Wall Street Journal notes that these are all issues that retailers need to grapple with.

In the end, Hobby Lobby's policy goes against the industry standard of having a clear, pet-friendly policy. Hepper explains that retailers like Petco, which have a clear pet policy, could be a good example for Hobby Lobby to follow in order to create a more uniform and customer-friendly policy for allowing dogs and other pets in their stores.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Recommendations

Hobby Lobby's policy on allowing pets in its stores is highly dependent on the individual location, with some stores allowing pets and others only allowing service animals. As a result, it's important for customers to contact their local Hobby Lobby store to find out the current policy before bringing a pet to the store. Businesses are required by the ADA to make reasonable accommodations for customers with service animals, and Hobby Lobby needs to make sure that all of its stores are in compliance.

Customers who want to bring their pets to Hobby Lobby should be responsible and respectful, making sure their pets are well-behaved and that they follow any store rules. To make its policy on pets in its stores more consistent and customer-friendly, Hobby Lobby should consider adopting a clear, company-wide pet policy that's in line with industry standards.