If you’re a dog lover, you might wish you could bring your dog everywhere with you. However, it often seems like the only pet-friendly stores around are, well, pet stores. Luckily, that isn’t the case. There are more pet-friendly stores out there than you’d think!
What about Hobby Lobby? Can your love of pets and crafts unite in this store? We’ll share everything you need to know about Hobby Lobby’s stance on allowing pets in-store, so keep reading.
Can You Bring Your Dog to Hobby Lobby?
We reached out to Hobby Lobby’s customer service to find out if the franchise allows pets in its stores. We were told that Hobby Lobby does not have any policy on this, which means that it’s up to the discretion of the manager at each store location.
As such, there are some Hobby Lobby stores that will allow dogs and others that will not. You should call your local Hobby Lobby to ensure it’s okay to bring your dog into the store with you. Though there is no specific policy in place, you can expect that dog-friendly Hobby Lobby stores will prefer that dogs remain leashed and on their best behavior.
If your local Hobby Lobby doesn’t allow dogs, then you’ll want to leave Fido at home. It can be tempting to bring the dog for a car ride, but most dogs will be more comfortable at home. This is especially true when the temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Above puts your dog at risk of heatstroke, and below puts your dog at risk of hypothermia. Cars can heat up or cool down a lot more quickly than you’d expect. There’s no such thing as a five-minute trip to a Hobby Lobby (there’s too much fun stuff inside), so be sure to put your dog’s safety first.
Are Service Dogs Allowed in Hobby Lobby?
Service dogs are welcome at every Hobby Lobby location, even the ones that don’t allow dogs. This is because service dogs perform tasks that are vital to their users’ well-being. For example, service dogs can sense and alert people to various health emergencies before they happen, such as low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and seizures.
Being alert allows the person to prevent such emergencies by taking medication, getting to a safe place, or getting help. Federal law has long recognized the importance of service dogs, which is why they have rights and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA grants service dogs the right to accompany their users anywhere the public is allowed to go. Therefore, service dogs are allowed at any Hobby Lobby location.
Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in Hobby Lobby?
Although emotional support animals (ESAs) are often labeled as assistance animals, they are not the same as service dogs. Emotional support animals provide comfort to those struggling with mental health disorders, but they do so through companionship rather than specialized training.
Service dogs, on the other hand, undergo intense training and learn specialized skills that help them assist people with disabilities, both physical and mental. For example, a service dog might be trained to perform medication reminders or even fetch medication.
Because ESAs are not service dogs, they do not receive any rights from the ADA. As such, an emotional support animal will only be welcome in Hobby Lobby stores that are already pet-friendly.
In-Store Doggy Etiquette
If you want to bring your dog to a Hobby Lobby (or any other store for that matter), you should only do so if they are well-behaved. Most stores are happy to welcome in dogs that are on a leash and are relatively calm.
A rowdy dog can be a headache for other customers and employees alike. A poorly behaved dog might make the store manager change their mind about allowing dogs inside. If your dog is likely to lunge, bark, urinate, defecate, or damage store merchandise, then you should probably leave them at home.
It may be embarrassing, but if your dog does have an accident in the store, you should let an employee know and ask for materials to clean it up. Most pet-friendly stores will have cleaning supplies for you to use.
As long as you and your dog are respectful, pet-friendly Hobby Lobby locations are likely to stay that way.
Reasons Dogs May Not Be Allowed in Hobby Lobby
As we explained, some Hobby Lobby locations will allow dogs, and others won’t – it’s up to the manager of each store. What sorts of things might cause a manager to decide against letting dogs inside? Let’s talk about it.
Allergies
It is estimated that 10 to 20% of the world’s population is allergic to dogs and cats. Allergies can range in severity from person to person; some people may hardly be bothered by their allergies, whereas others need to carry an EpiPen as their allergies are life-threatening.
Because allergies can be such a serious issue, some managers may feel it best to prevent dogs from entering the store so that all customers can have a safe experience.
Cleanliness
Though most dogs are potty trained and would never pee or poop in their own homes, you may find that isn’t the case for other buildings. Dogs live in a world of scent, and unfamiliar ones may have them lifting their legs, even indoors.
When those unfamiliar scents belong to other dogs, the chance of a raised leg becomes even higher. If managers don’t want to have concerns about the cleanliness of their stores, they’re likely to ban dogs from entering altogether.
Bad Behavior
We talked about this earlier, but when a store faces numerous incidents involving dogs with bad behavior, they’re likely to close their doors to our furry friends. While some bad behavior, like barking, is simply annoying, other types of bad behavior can be dangerous. Dogs that lunge or snarl at employees or other customers can make everyone feel unsafe.
If we want to keep stores like Hobby Lobby pet-friendly, then we need to do our part and be honest with ourselves about our dogs’ behavior. Dogs that are hard to control or unfriendly should not be brought to the store.
Other Stores That Allow Dogs
Hobby Lobby isn’t the only store that allows dogs. You might be surprised to learn that there are a number of pet-friendly businesses. Here is a list of stores that allow dogs at most of their locations. If you want to bring your pup to one of these stores, be sure to call ahead to make sure it’s okay.
- Ace Hardware
- Bass Pro Shops
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Cabela’s
- Everlane
- Half Price Books
- Joann Fabrics
- L. Bean
- Lowe’s
- Marshall’s
- Michaels
- Ross
- J. Maxx
- Tractor Supply Co.
- Warby Parker
Other Stores That Don’t Allow Dogs
Though some Hobby Lobby locations are dog-friendly, there are a lot of stores you may frequent that are not. Here is a list of stores that do not allow dogs inside unless they are service dogs. If you’re planning to make a trip to one of these stores, be sure to leave your furbaby at home.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- Festival Foods
- IKEA
- Meijer
- Menards
- Sam’s Club
- Target
- Trader Joes
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
Call Your Local Hobby Lobby Today
Hobby Lobby does not have a pet policy, which means that some stores are pet-friendly and others are not. It is up to the manager of each Hobby Lobby location to decide if they want to allow dogs inside or not.
If you want to know whether or not your local Hobby Lobby is dog-friendly, you’ll need to call ahead. If your Hobby Lobby does allow dogs, be sure that your dog has good manners and won’t disturb other customers.
Friendly, calm dogs are always a joy for employees and other customers, whereas unruly, misbehaved dogs can be quite the headache.