Dogs in King Soopers and Target? Denver, We Need to Talk.
I love dogs. Truly. But lately I’ve been noticing something in Denver that has me scratching my head—why are dogs showing up in grocery stores? King Soopers especially seems to be ground zero for this trend. I’ve seen pups trotting down the produce aisle or perched in shopping carts not far from the lunchmeat.
It doesn’t stop at the grocery store, either. Dogs are popping up in malls, drugstores, Hobby Lobby, and even Target. These aren’t service animals—we’re not talking about trained working dogs here. Service animals have a job to do and belong wherever their person needs them. But bringing a pet into a store just because you don’t want to leave them at home? That’s something else entirely. Do we prefer people not leave their dogs in a hot vehicle? YES! But that doesn’t make bringing them into any public spaces okay.
Hardware stores used to feel like a gray area—dogs tagging along while their owner browsed for lumber or paint was almost part of the culture. But a dog next to household tools is very different than a dog near fresh food or health products.
I get it. Nobody likes leaving their pup behind, and it’s tempting to think it’s “cute” when a dog is riding along in a shopping cart. But maybe it’s time to rethink this habit. For the comfort of other shoppers, for the health standards of stores, and yes—for the dogs themselves. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for your best friend is let them stay home and nap while you knock out your errands.
