Due to hygiene and customer comfort, many walk-in restaurants don’t accept dogs in their dining room. This makes it important for customers who love pets or can’t do without them to know whether the restaurant accepts them.
Chipotle is renowned for its high health standard, which greatly affects whether they allow dogs in their diners. So is this just a ruse, and the Mexican grill is dog friendly? Let’s find out.
Does Chipotle Allow Dogs?
No, Chipotle does not allow dogs or any pets in its restaurants. The only exception to the rule is if it is a service or working dog. Well-mannered dogs can be in the outside dining area ,if your local Chipotle has one. They must be under the owners control and well-behaved.
Only service dogs can be inside Chipotle. Service dogs perform specific tasks for people with disability while working dogs perform tasks like search and rescue, detection, and hunting.
There might be situations where people try to be dishonest. However, since their non-acceptance of dogs is majorly due to health reasons, it is important to honestly say what kind of dogs you are with.
Are Service Dogs Allowed In Chipotle?
Chipotle does allow service and working dogs.
Examples of service dogs are guide dogs, hearing dogs, and seizure alert dogs; just to name a few.
Everyday pets aren’t allowed in Chipotle and are strictly prohibited.
Does Chipotle Allow Emotional Support Dogs?
Emotional support pets aren’t considered service animals and are not allowed inside Chipotle.
Unfortunately, under the American’s with Disability’s Act, Emotional Support Animals (ESA’s), don’t qualify as service or working pets.
Does Chipotle Allow Cats?
No. Chipotle has a strict no-pets policy which extends to cats and all domesticated animals.
Unless your cat is a service cat, it is not allowed inside Chipotle.
How Strict is Chipotle’s Pet Policy?
Chipotle’s pet policy is very strict and enforced in all their establishments. They will not allow any dogs that don’t serve as service animals inside their store.
Chipotle follows strict food codes and can’t take any chances by allowing pets inside their restaurants.
What Does Not Count as a Service Dog in Chipotle?
Any pet that isn’t trained and certified as a service animal by the Americans with Disability Act, does not count as a service dog.
Emotional support dogs fall into this category and are not allowed inside Chipotle.
Read: Does Chipotle Charge For Extra Rice?
Why Does Chipotle Not Allow Dogs?
Chipotle, like many other restaurants, does not allow dogs in its building for two reasons:
- Like any other restaurant, Chipotle will follow the Federal Health Codes regarding food and sanitation. These codes ensure that the food served is safe and hygienic. Dogs and other pets can be carriers of diseases or food contaminants. Hence, the non-acceptance.
- Also, not everybody is comfortable around dogs. This is another complementary reason is because of their general customer’s comfort. The fact that you like dogs around you does not necessarily mean you want them around when eating. Having dogs around can bring about customer dissatisfaction, so Chipotle tries to avoid this.
What Restaurant Allows Dogs?
While Chipotle doesn’t allow dogs, some restaurants accommodate them. Some even offer dog-friendly meals. Below are some dog-friendly restaurants that can serve as alternatives to Chipotle that you can find in most location
- Applebee’s
- In-N-Out Burger
- Starbucks
- Shake Shack
- Outback Steakhouse
Read: Is Chipotle Fast Food?
Things you should know when visiting a dog-friendly restaurant:
If you can’t leave your dog behind at home, you should know a few things when visiting a dog-friendly restaurant.
- Only go to restaurants with well-behaved dogs
- Always use a leash
- Feed the dogs before going to the restaurants
- Attach the leash to yourself and not the table
- Make the dog presentable, so they don’t irritate the other diners
Read: Does Chipotle Deliver?
Conclusion
Chipotle does not allow dogs in their walk-in restaurant unless they are service or working dogs.
This includes emotional support animals, as they do not fall under the American with Disability Act.