Walmart, the nation's No. 1 retailer, is tightening the leash on "comfort and emotional support animals."
Throughout the United States, Walmart is adding prominent signage saying "Service animals welcome. No Pets."
Publix has done the same.
This is all in an effort to crack down on people who are abusing the "service animal" rules in order to bring their pets to places where pets are normally not allowed.
There have been loads of stories about people bringing ducks, peacocks, turkeys, guinea pigs, reptiles and more into places that are typically off-limits for pets, like airports and grocery stores.
Obviously, I'm aware that service animals, such as guide dogs, provide necessary and life-saving services for their owners, and in accordance with the ADA, should be allowed everywhere with their owners. But I've personally seen people print fake papers off the internet that "prove" their chihuahua is a service animal, just so they can take their pet with them to Whole Foods, and I think that's ridiculous. First of all, is every pet not an "emotional support animal" if you really think about it? Secondly, I think it's selfish and disrespectful to say your pet python is a "work animal" if you know good and well that it's not.
Anyway, I think this is a step in the right direction. I'd love your thoughts.