Are you running errands today and have a trip to your local Dollar General store planned? If so, you might want to bring your dog along because those visits always seem to take longer than expected. And so you might wonder,
Are dogs allowed in Dollar General stores? No, dogs aren’t allowed in Dollar General stores unless it’s a service dog.
However, there have been stories online where a store manager allows more than just service animals, so there may be some hope for you and your pup.
Keep reading to learn more about Dollar General’s pet policy.
Is Dollar General Dog Friendly?
Many retailers are pet-friendly, meaning that they allow pet owners to bring pets of all sorts onto the premises. Unfortunately, Dollar General is not a pet-friendly location.
The company wants to ensure that the Dollar General facilities remain safe and enjoyable for all consumers. Therefore, they do not regularly practice allowing animals to enter the building with their owners.
This means not pets are allowed inside, but service animals are okay.
The company takes all things into consideration, such as allergic reactions that other customers might have.
They also consider that small children might fear the animals, and untrained animals may cause health hazards inside the store.
Their overall attitude toward pets in the store in not welcoming.
However, some employees have mentioned working in a store where the manager allows pets inside.
One former sales associate in Quincy, Illinois had this to say:
They would actually allow pets in the store and the customers really enjoyed this because they would bring their best friends in the store.
What Is Dollar General’s Official Policy on Dogs?
Dollar General’s official policy on dogs is that they only allow service animals in their stores.
Please note that service animals and emotional support animals are not the same thing. You cannot bring your emotional support animal into Dollar General.
Does Dollar General’s Dog Policy Vary Across Locations?
Technically, the nationwide policy across the USA is that only service animals are allowed in Dollar General stores.
A former employee in Des Moines, Iowa had this to say:
They allow service dogs to come in that’s it.
But, as you can see above, the store in Quincy, IL did allow people to bring in dogs that were not service animals. So, that makes it seem like each individual store manager can choose to allow dogs in the store.
This tends to be more common in stores that are in small town locations, and not city store locations. A blogger had this to say about it:
I like to take my doggie to Dollar General. I’m lucky in that I live in a small town with small stores so no one really cares so long as my dog is up in a cart.
The Final Word
The best advice we can give consumers is to avoid bringing non-service animals to Dollar General locations.
Such individuals should bring verification or certification if they do have a service animal, and they would like to bring the service animal into a Dollar General location.
Of course, some store managers are more accommodating to pet owners, so your doggo may be allowed at your local Dollar General.
We hope you’ve gained a full understanding of Dollar General’s rules and practices regarding dogs.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to the company, or your local Dollar General store, for more specific and detailed information.
You may also be interested in:
- Does Home Depot Allow Dogs In The Store?
- Does Lowes Allow Dogs In The Store?
- Does Starbucks Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Target Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Walmart Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Trader Joe’s Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Costco Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Best Buy Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Menards Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Tractor Supply (TSC) Allow Dogs Inside?
- Does Sam’s Club Allow Dogs Inside?
I was in store in West Milford NJ – morning of 11/2120. Person at check out had small dog in cart – it did not appear to be a service dog. I wanted to complain, but was concerned about ‘causing a scene’ because no employee in the store seemed to care. It is unsanitary to have a dog sitting in the cart. Any suggestion on how to approach this if this happens in the future?
Hi Caroline,
The best thing to do is to contact the store manager about the situation. If you feel like you’re not being heard, then you can take it over their head with corporate.
Best of luck!
I think a small dog that is in a cart, or a service dog should be okay. We have an older man that brings his two very badly behaved dogs into our local Dollar General. The one dog is always humping something or someone. They both whine, and approach people and lick them. The man is always asking customers if they want to pet his dogs. I’ve never had an issue before, but my grandson is highly allergic to dogs. It concerns me when he is with me and I have to run in DG to shop (my little town has only 2 places to get groceries) I’ve looked on-line and it does state that DG has a strict no pet policy. (Unless they are a service animal-which these guys obviously are not!) But then goes on to say, bottom line, it’s really up to the store mgr.
A little dog in the cart It’s not hurting anyone they do not Pee on the floor Nor do they poop on the floor there’s more important things in this world to worry about then a little dog in a shopping cart when there was mask restrictions nobody said anything to people not wearing a mask big difference have a blessed day
I was Dollar General in Port Huron Michigan on Water Street and a lady brought in a Beagle dog who definitely was not a service dog the dog wanted to be petted the employees were cutting the dog and I mentioned that’s not a service dog and they said they’re not allowed to ask if it’s a service dog or not. The dog wanted to be petted the employees were petting it and it was whining I just had a dog harness on a service dog will not want to be petted so this company was wrong and letting that dog come in the customer was letting the dog try to pick out its own treats in the dog why nothing to do with it the dog just wanted people to pet it and it was whiny it was a beagle I hope you contact this store and set the store right it makes me want to shop there anymore cuz this is a very sanitary this dog was not a service dog I repeat not a service dog
I did shop at store 22097 in clarkridge Ar. I say did, because there is one cashier in there that upsets me so bad that I will not return. I have a service dog (10 lbs) that goes every where with me. If I do not have her vest on her, which is my choice, then I have her badge pinned to my shirt. When I walk in the store the first thing the cashier says is “that dog is not allowed in here”. I say she is a service dog. the cashier most of the time says “I don’t care, she can not be in here, or it (my dog) has to be in the cart. my dog can not ride in a cart because her feet will fall thru the holes. Besides she is never more the a foot from me on a leach. I try not to let it upset me, I just go ahead in the store and pick up my items. Then when I go to check out. The cashier informs me I am a very rude person and I am rude every time I come in the store. keep in mind there are other customers listening to this exchange every time. I tell her I am sorry she feels that way. She informs me she is just following dollar general’s rules. so I came home and looked up the dollar general rules, they say nothing like what she is saying, the stores welcome a trained service animal. It is the law that my dog can go “everywhere” with me!!!!! I feel so embarrassed when I go in that store, I shall not return. And no one in my life has ever called me rude!!!! With pink and blue hair with a little service dog, it’s kind of hard not to be a nice person!!! lol but there are some things in life we just cant change, I’m thinking this is one of them. so sad, that store is so handy and I will drive right by it to get to another one…. but I never know when that cashier will be there, and It upsets me so bad, that I will just keep driving by it. my hubby says just let it go, but its hard to when a customer service person is so disrespectful to you… I don’t normally complain, but darn it it sure blows my day!!!! (or two)..
I have one for the books. I Live in Washington, Pa. I have been in a lot of the Dollar Generals in the area. From Pittsburgh to To Hopwood Pa. And and only one store has a problem with my animal. She is an ESA and Registered service animal. With that being said. Small dogs that can be carried or placed in the cart should be fine. Service dog or not. Again that being said I have a service Gator. Yes a service Gator. I am welcomed in most Dollar Generals in Southwestern Pa except one. Most ask that I keep her on my Gator shoulder or in my arms, which is not problem. Often asking question s about her. Customers always ask about her and it passes the time in line. Most cases I am in to get a drink or bread and I am out.