Ross is the go-to place to buy name-brand products at an affordable price. Its tagline, dress for less, lures in those looking for bargains, but there is more to be found at Ross than just clothes. Ross stores sell everything from footwear to appliances to dog beds.
This makes Ross an attractive shopping destination, but you must be informed of Ross’ pet policies before taking your four-legged friend with you. Our article will detail Ross’s pet policies, so you know whether your dog can tag along while you shop.
Continue reading to know everything about taking your dog to Ross for shopping.
Are Dogs Allowed in Ross?
The quick answer to whether or not dogs are allowed in Ross is that it depends on the store you’re going to. Ross doesn’t have a strict no-pet policy, and it comes down to the management of each store. While many Ross stores welcome a well-behaved dog on a leash, regardless of breed or size, some store management may not be okay with it.
That said, your dog may or may not be allowed in Ross. If you’ve seen dogs at a Ross store before, it’s likely that they allow dogs. However, it’s best to call the store to learn about their pet policy before taking your dog with you on your next shopping trip to Ross.
A quick search on Google Maps will reveal the contact information of Ross locations in your state. By doing this, you’ll know for certain if the Ross Store you’re planning to go to allows dogs or not.
What About Service Dogs?
If you have a service animal, the pet policy of Ross and other US stores doesn’t affect whether or not you can enter the premises. Even if the Ross location you’re planning to shop at has a strict no-pet policy, you can take your service dog along with you.
Unlike pet dogs, service dogs have public access rights to anywhere their owners are allowed to assist them with daily tasks. The Americans with Disabilities Act clearly protects the rights of service animals to enter public spaces with their owners.
This is because the tasks service dogs perform to assist their handlers in accomplishing daily tasks. For example, a mobility assistance dog can help their handler try on outfits by opening the dressing room door.
What Is a Service Animal?
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines service animals as dogs trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. These tasks range from providing mobility assistance to the physically disabled to guiding the blind and visually impaired.
Since these highly trained dogs uphold extremely important responsibilities for disabled individuals, they must be allowed to enter public spaces. Service animals can’t be denied access even if an establishment has a strict no-pet policy. This includes anywhere serving the general public, such as restaurants, cafes, shops, and government offices.
However, there are clear exceptions to the public access of service animals. For example, a service dog can’t enter operating rooms at a hospital, as their presence may compromise the sterile environment. Additionally, service animals must be well-behaved and pose no health or safety threat to others. If a service animal gets out of control, business owners can ask them to leave.
Can Ross Ask Service Dogs to Leave the Store?
Ross staff can’t ask you to leave the premises just because you have a service animal. However, that’s assuming your service dog is well-behaved and isn’t a threat to others. Ross can ask customers with a service animal to leave the store if the dog’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
For example, Ross can ask your service animal to leave the store if they are barking or growling excessively, reacting in unpleasant ways to other shoppers, or destroying items in the store.
Other than a clear reason that poses a threat, Ross employees can’t ask your service dog to leave the store. Without a valid reason, asking an individual with a disability to remove their service animal is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Can Ross Deny Access to Service Dogs?
Ross can’t deny access to customers walking in with their service animal. Federal law clearly protects the public access rights of service animals. Even if the customers in the store complain or have an allergy to dogs, Ross can’t deny access to service dogs.
In case you walk into a Ross with your service dog and the store denies access, you can simply state that your dog is a service animal. Store management is aware of the law that protects the rights of service animals. A simple statement should be enough to gain access in most cases.
Additionally, Ross employees can’t ask your dog to perform tasks to prove they are a service animal. It’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act if Ross staff doesn’t let your service dog enter the store and ask to prove it by performing tasks or showing documents. The only two questions Ross – or any other establishment – can ask about your service dog is:
- Is this a service animal required because of a disability?
- What task(s) is the dog trained to perform?
Other than these two, stores can’t ask further questions to determine whether you actually need your dog in the store.
If your access to Ross is denied despite answering these questions and stating the law, you may file a complaint with the Department of Justice.
Are ESAs Allowed in Ross?
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort to individuals with a mental disability through companionship. However, ESAs don’t undergo specific training to help their handlers. Mental health professionals essentially “prescribe” them to provide comfort through companionship to a person with a mental disability.
Emotional support animals don’t have the same public access rights as service animals. Ross may or may not allow an ESA to enter the premises, depending on the store’s pet policy. If they have a no-pet policy in the store, you won’t be able to enter with your ESA. For Ross stores that happily accept dogs and other pets, shopping with your ESA shouldn’t be a problem.
What About Therapy Dogs?
Therapy dogs are different from emotional support animals. While both provide comfort to those suffering from a mental illness or disability, therapy dogs undertake different duties.
Therapy dogs aren’t trained to stay with their owners. Instead, they volunteer in various places to provide affection. These range from mental health institutions to schools to nursing homes.
These lovely dogs are trained to be comfortable in different settings, and while they are likely to cause no problems in a store, they aren’t considered service animals. Therefore, therapy dogs must abide by the pet policies of stores.
Why Are Only Service Dogs Allowed in Ross?
Our pets are so dear to us. They are the highlight of our lives and an irreplaceable part of our family, but there’s a clear line between a pet dog and a service dog.
Service animals are specifically trained to help individuals with disabilities and are legally regarded as medical equipment. Guide dogs assist the visually impaired in navigating, mobility assistance dogs help people walk and get up from a seat, seizure alert dogs prevent injuries during a seizure, and so on.
There are many types of service dogs that are trained to achieve remarkable things to help their handlers. A big part of service dog training is to ensure the dog stays on the job in all public settings. Dog trainers introduce various distractions to prepare the service animal to remain calm and on the job. This ensures that service dogs don’t display destructive behaviors in public spaces.
Aside from the legal protection service animals have, their training makes them distinct from pet dogs. That’s why service animals are allowed in Ross and other public spaces where pet dogs are not.
Can Pet Dogs or ESAs Become Service Animals?
A pet dog that hasn’t received any service animal training can’t become a service dog. However, this doesn’t mean that your dog can’t be trained to assist an individual with disabilities.
Since the ADA clearly defines a service animal as a dog trained to help an individual with a disability, ESAs other than dogs can’t become service animals. This means birds, rabbits, miniature horses, Guinea pigs, squirrels, and other animals that are ESAs aren’t eligible to become service animals.
If you have a dog and want them to become a service animal, there are several ways to go about service dog training. You can send your dog to a service animal trainer or train them yourself.
While training your pet dog to become a service animal might take a lot of time and effort, it’s doable. It can take longer than enrolling your dog in a service animal training program, but it depends on how much time you’re willing to commit to training.
On average, service animal training takes at least one year. The dog’s temperament, age, breed, size, and trainability are some factors that go into the length of the training.
The training type is also just as important. A dog can learn to alert their handlers to specific sounds like the doorbell or phone ring in a few weeks, but detecting seizures and appropriately responding can take months.
Additionally, your dog may not be suitable for service animal training. For example, Chihuahuas and other small dog breeds can’t become mobility assistance dogs due to their small stature. Still, they can accomplish great things with their small frame, such as becoming hearing or allergy-detection dogs.
Is Ross Pet Friendly?
Let’s say the Ross you’re going to allows dogs – but how pet-friendly is it? Going to a store that allows dogs doesn’t always impress dog owners with how pet-friendly they are. Many stores don’t consider our four-legged friends and may have items that can risk your dog’s well-being, or navigating around could be too difficult.
Luckily, Ross is a very pet-friendly place. You can explore the store to shop for new clothing and housewares with your four-legged friend without worrying about their safety. The aisles are wide, and there aren’t many items on the floor your dog may accidentally bump into and get hurt.
However, Ross sells a wide range of items. The sections of the store that sell homeware can get quite chaotic, with products near floor level. It’s best to keep your dog on a short leash and close to you while shopping in these parts of Ross. Your experience may vary, depending on your dog’s size and temperament, but shopping at Ross should be a positive experience.
Other Stores That Allow Dogs
Shopping at Ross can lead you to many bargains, but it’s not always possible to take your dog with you. The company doesn’t have a nationwide pet policy, and only some stores allow dogs. If the Ross location near you doesn’t allow dogs, consider shopping at the following places.
- Nordstrom
- Macy’s
- Marshalls
- TJ Maxx
- Orvis
- Everlane
- Anthropologie
While many of these department store locations will happily accept your furry friend to accompany you during your shopping adventures, many small boutique stores also allow dogs.
FAQs
Can My Service Dog Enter Ross Off-Leash?
Service dogs generally need to be leashed when entering and walking in Ross. Service animals can enter and walk off-leash alongside their handlers only if their leash or harness prevents them from doing their work.
Also, service dogs may enter Ross or other public spaces without a leash if the handler’s disability prevents them from walking their service dogs wearing a leash. However, your service dog must be under control at all times. As long as your service dog is well-behaved and stays on the job, they don’t have to be leashed.
Does Ross Sell Dog Products?
Ross has plenty of dog products, from beds to toys to slow feeders to clothing. This makes Ross an excellent place to shop with your furry friend. As you try on new clothes, you can let your dog sniff and choose a new toy.
Ross sells dog products year-round, and you can find various clothing for Halloween, Christmas, and other holidays. Dress together with your dog for different occasions.
Can You Buy From Ross Stores Online?
There are over 1,700 Ross locations in 41 different states, but the company doesn’t have an online store. You can’t add items to your cart and get them delivered to your home. Ross also doesn’t have a curbside pickup or an online catalog to see what’s in the stores. The only way to shop at Ross is to visit their stores.
Does Ross Allow Dogs?
Ross doesn’t have a nationwide pet policy. Some stores happily allow dogs to enter and shop with their owners; some don’t. Whether or not your dog can enter the store depends on the Ross store you’re going to shop. So, there isn’t a definitive answer to whether dogs are allowed in Ross or not.
Unless you have a service dog that can enter public spaces regardless of their pet policy, it’s best to call the store before taking your dog with you. While service animals may enter public spaces, including Ross, with their handlers, note that ESAs and therapy dogs aren’t exempt from the pet policy restrictions.