Is H-E-B Pet Friendly? 2024 Update
Updated on
More and more places are pet friendly, including stores and restaurants. H-E-B, a popular grocery chain based in Texas, is popular for its variety and low prices, leading many to wonder if they are a pet-friendly grocery store.
H-E-B is not a pet-friendly store. It doesn’t allow dogs or other pets into its stores, based on its official policy. Only service animals are allowed inside.
Official H-E-B Store Policy on Pets
In 2019, H-E-B was asked on Twitter (currently known as X) whether its store allowed dogs.1 The store replied with “Good morning! H-E-B currently only allows service animals in our stores. For the health and safety of all our customers, we do not allow pets to be placed in our shopping carts. Thank you for reaching out.”
As per the policy, only service animals are allowed in the stores. This is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which has stringent requirements for service animals to assist people who are deaf, blind, or with other disabilities.2
In the eyes of the law, service animals are working animals, not pets. They are not to be confused with emotional support animals (ESAs), which are used to provide comfort or emotional support to their owners but do not have legal protection.
Why Isn’t H-E-B Pet Friendly?
With so many pet-friendly locations across the US, you may be wondering why H-E-B chooses to only allow service animals. As a food store, there are several potential issues the company could have for allowing dogs or other pets in the store, including:
- Hygiene issues: Dogs and other pets can track in mud or dirt, soil the floor, or drool or lick products. They can also shed, leaving hair on food products or surfaces intended for food.
- Not all pets are well behaved in public: If a dog is aggressive, unruly, or loose, it can present a safety hazard for customers, employees, and the pet themselves. Pets can also get underfoot and cause people to trip, or they may become injured by shopping carts or other hazards.
- Local food regulations: Many states have stringent requirements for businesses that prepare and sell food, including grocery stores. This is to prevent the contamination of food products and foodborne illnesses. H-E-B is likely bound by these same regulations.
Why Are Pets Allowed in Restaurants But Not Allowed in H-E-B?
While there are regulations that may restrict pets from being in a grocery store that prepares and sells food, you may be wondering why those same regulations don’t apply to pet-friendly restaurants and cafes.
There is one clear difference, however. Pet-friendly restaurants are almost always pet-friendly in a designated area—typically a deck, patio, or outside seating area—to minimize the risk of food contamination and health concerns. People go to a grocery store to shop, so it’s not practical for H-E-B to allow pets in an outdoor area.
Conclusion
There you have it! H-E-B does not allow dogs or other pets, other than service animals. H-E-B may not be pet friendly, but there are numerous places that allow pets, such as beaches, parks, restaurants, cafes, stores, and other locations.
Featured Image Credit: HEB MacGregor Market, WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons CC0 1.0 Universal
