Our dogs mean the world to us. And it’s unimaginable running any form of errand without them. So, even when we’re grabbing a cup of latte at Starbucks, we want them close by. But, are dogs allowed in Starbucks? Not quite!
Starbucks loves dogs! No doubt about that. They’ll act nice towards Fido when you bring him. And they’ll even be generous enough to give him a Puppuccino – for free!
But, Starbucks is a food establishment. Because of this, they cannot – for the most part – allow dogs into their premises. Doing so would be a violation of certain important health codes.
But, there are exceptions. And depending on the type of dog you own, you might just be able to get Fido into Starbucks.
Does Starbucks Have An Official Dog Policy?
It may interest you to know that Starbucks has no official dog policy barring or allowing dogs into its premises. And you may not even see any sign outside the store indicating such either.
Accordingly, one Starbucks store may allow an owner and his dog. Another store may not! Why? It’s usually down to the discretion of employees. And the general setting of the store at your time of entering.
Generally, though, Starbucks will restrict the entry of dogs into its premises. And it’s not just limited to dogs. It includes all other animals/pets.
Why Starbucks Doesn’t Allow Dogs Into Its Premises
Dogs play a crucial role in our lives. And we can be forgiven for thinking sometimes that they’re perfect creatures.
But, the presence of dogs can give rise to legitimate hygiene and safety concerns. Especially where the establishment sells food and beverage as Starbucks does!
Like many such establishments, Starbucks operates under the FDA’s Food Code. And indiscriminately allowing animals into its premises may be generally unsanitary.
Dog pee, poop, saliva, or fur can contaminate food-contact surfaces, leading to the spread of bacteria and other germs.
Second, some people may be allergic to dogs.
Again, dogs are usually giddy by nature. And you may not always be able to keep Fido under control. The last thing you want is to see your dog lunging at and biting a customer.
What About Puppies?
Puppies are generally harmless, right? And you’d be forgiven for thinking these adorable, little furballs would be allowed access into any premises.
At Starbucks, that’s not the case. It doesn’t matter whether Fido is big or small. Employees will generally not allow dogs in. So, you might want to keep that in mind.
But, There’s An Exception!
Clearly, the reason why Starbucks bars the entry of dogs is to safeguard the welfare of its customers.
However, Starbucks will allow entry if your dog is a service animal!
According to Starbucks’ Division Senior Vice President on the subject matter, “Starbucks always welcomes service animals to our stores, and we want every customer who spends time in our stores to enjoy their visit.”
Thus, you’re free to enter any Starbucks shop with your service dog without restrictions.
Service animals, as recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are those animals that have been trained to assist persons with disabilities in the performance of certain tasks.
Animals that provide emotional support. For example, ones that provide relief for anxiety, stress, depression, etc. aren’t service animals as defined by the ADA. So, Starbucks does have every right to turn them away.
Will Starbucks Inquire If My Dog Is A Service Animal?
Interestingly, there are certain restrictions the ADA imposes on the staff of establishments like Starbucks when it comes to verifying if a dog is a service animal.
First, they can’t request that your dog showcase the performance of his tasks. They cannot also request you to provide any evidence or documentation that your dog is a service animal.
Furthermore, they are barred from asking for details concerning the nature of your disability.
However, there are ways they can still know if your dog is a service animal. And for this, the ADA authorizes them to ask two important questions. These include;
- Whether the dog is a service animal for the purposes of a disability
- What the specific task/work is that the dog has been trained to perform
Per ADA regulations, therefore, it seems that proof of identification may not be necessary.
Still, we think that you should adorn your dog with a marked vest. Or be prepared to display any form of identification to employees if your dog is a service animal. We think it’ll make access into Starbucks with Fido way easier.
Under What Circumstances Will Starbucks Cause The Removal of Service Animals?
There is a wide blanket of protection over persons with service animals. And for the most part, these people – with their dogs – can enjoy access into any place imaginable. There are almost no restrictions! The ADA makes certain of that.
The ADA clearly states that the fear of dogs and allergies aren’t sufficient reasons to restrict the entry of service animals into premises.
More importantly, the ADA authorizes the entry of service animals into ALL establishments.
So, even if health or local codes forbid the entry of animals into an establishment like Starbucks, the ADA authorizes otherwise.
Accordingly, it seems almost impossible that you can be asked to remove your service animal from any premises.
But, there are two circumstances that will trigger a request by staff to get your dog out of the premises. They include;
- Failing to keep your dog under control after he has acted rowdily
- Where your dog isn’t housebroken
are dogs allowed in starbucks? what happens if i take fido into starbucks?
First, we wouldn’t advise you to do that. But, in the event that you do, a worker there might politely ask you to leave Fido outside.
Of course, we’ve mentioned before, that some stores may be lax with this policy. And if you’re fortunate, you may not have to turn back with Fido.
Nonetheless, even where an employee fails to ask you to go out with your dog, customers may require that you do.
You really don’t want to go there having to jump through hoops with Fido. It’s, therefore, best if you leave Fido at home. If you can’t, though, there are other options you might want to exercise.
You Can Still Have Fun With Fido At Starbucks
That you can’t take Fido into Starbucks doesn’t mean you’ve got to finish up your coffee in a split second and head out the door.
You can still relax as you enjoy your beverage with Fido by your side, chilling with his special cup of Puppuccino. Just not inside of Starbucks.
Use Starbucks’ Dog-Friendly Patios
Starbucks’ patios and outdoor sitting areas are all accommodative of dogs. You may not be able to get Fido in.
But, you just need a minute or two not only to get yourself a beverage and his pup cup as well. You might want to get a good Samaritan to watch him briefly while you’re at it.
After that, it’ll just be the two of you making pleasant memories.
Use The Drive-Thru
Don’t want to leave Fido outside while you grab your latte? All Starbucks locations have a drive-thru.
So, you can always place your order – and a pup cup for Fido – while you relax in your vehicle
Use The Delivery Option
What if you don’t want to exercise any of the options above. Well, you can just chill at home and get your package delivered to you.
Starbucks now delivers with Uber Eats. So, download the app and order your favorite beverage if you don’t think it’s worth the hassle of going down with him to Starbucks.
Unfortunately, you might not be able to order a pup cup for Fido if you go by this route unless you specially request it.
What is Puppuccino?
Puppuccino or the pup cup is a secret menu item by Starbucks for dogs.
As we’ve already noted, Starbucks is dog-friendly. And they’ll go to great lengths to ensure Fido enjoys his time at the premises.
All you gotta do is to ask for a pup cup and presto! It’s just whipped cream. And you can bet Fido’s going to have the time of his life with it. Plus, it’s free!!
Of course, Puppuccino is completely safe for dogs. It’s just going to serve as an occasional treat and nothing more. It contains no caffeine or tea. So, you’ve got nothing to worry about!
If your dog is lactose intolerant, though, you might not want to take chances.
Final Thoughts
So, are dogs allowed in Starbucks? Yes! But, only if they are service animals.
If they’re not, then you might want to leave them outside the premises temporarily while you huddle inside for your beverage.
It’s just a small price to pay, though. You can still have a great time with Fido in the outdoor sitting areas at Starbucks. Even better, you can put a smile on Fido’s face by requesting a tasty pup cup just for him!