Are Dogs Allowed in Walgreens? Is Walgreens Pet-Friendly? Answered

Is Walgreens pet-friendly? Walgreens allows service animals at every location (as does Duane Reade, which is owned by Walgreens), but other pets are only allowed inside select stores. Walgreens’ pet policy is left to the discretion of the store manager, so you’ll want to call ahead before visiting. Below, we have the full details of Walgreens’ in-store pet policy, plus information on how to find stores that are pet-friendly.

Are Dogs Allowed in Walgreens?

Walgreens stores allow service animals, but many locations have restrictions on other pets entering the store, a corporate customer service representative said. We contacted Walgreens stores in six states to ask about their pet policies, and only two of the locations said they were pet-friendly. Walgreens’ pet policy varies by location and is up to the store manager’s discretion. We also called several Duane Reade locations in New York, since Duane Reade is owned by Walgreens, and found that none of those stores allow pets. For details of your local store’s specific policy, it’s best to contact your nearest Walgreens or Duane Reade.

While retailers are required by law to allow service animals, there are several reasons a store may choose not to allow other pets. Safety reasons and liability issues are often considered. And food-related businesses like grocery stores and restaurants are unable to allow pets due to health regulations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” When in public, service animals should be on a harness or leash, unless there is a valid reason why they cannot be on a leash related to the individual’s disability or interference with the dog’s work. Walgreens’ corporate representative said there is no companywide policy requiring proof that the animal is, in fact, a service animal.

One of the Walgreens store associates we spoke with said dogs entering the store should be well-behaved and wearing a leash or harness.

In Summary

Walgreens allows service animals at all locations, and some stores may allow other pets. Walgreens’ pet policy varies by location and is up to the store manager’s discretion. Duane Reade’s pet policy may also vary by location, though none of the locations we contacted in the course of our research were pet-friendly. Consider also seeing our article about the dog-friendly stores list.