South Florida Publix Locations Cracking Down On Pets In Stores Policy
It’s about time! It appears that Publix is mounting a serious effort to stop shoppers from bringing their dogs into their stores. The push just got started in South Florida Publix locations thanks to dogged reporting from BocaNewsNow.com. Given that the disgusting practice violates federal law, hopefully the move will spread across the state. I don’t see pets in the Estero location. Not sure about Fort Myers or Naples.
This isn’t the first time Publix has taken a stand. In 2018, they focused on banning pets in grocery carts, but that was really the extent of it, and that’s not a common ocurence, or the biggest problem. The sniffing and licking of food meant for human consumption, not to mention the urine and feces in the aisles was, and is, a much bigger problem.
Now, though, Publix is taking a real stand.
Window signs already remind shoppers that it’s illegal to bring in anything other than a true service animal. But on top of that, the company is in the process – at least in South Florida, so far – of putting up larger signs that shoppers wont be able to miss. Store managers have been told to notify law enforcement if nothing else works to keep pets out of the stores. Their owners could be charged with trespassing.
Importantly, shoppers will be reminded on these new larger signs, that emotional service animals – ESAs – are not true service animals trained to assist the blind, or those who have epilepsy, and the ESAs will not be allowed.
By the way, this is not an excuse to leave your dog in a hot car while you go inside to shop. Don’t get me started on that! If your dogs are not trained, working service animals, leave them at home.
There are about 876 Publix stores in Florida. Let’s hope each one of them seriously backs this effort.
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