‘It was so refreshing’: Costco employee pleasantly surprises service dog handler when he asks exactly what he is supposed to ask and nothing more

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Apr 21, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

We love a happy ending for anyone with a dog, especially when it's a working dog with an important job—like a service animal! These dogs are not just their hooman's best friend, but also a prescribed medical device. They are trained to help them through medical emergency and even alert beforehand to prevent any accidents. This means you will see these important doggos in all kinds of places that you wouldn't usually see a dog. Just to be clear, they are not emotional support animals and they are definitely not just a pet. They are thoroughly trained and if you see a dog sniffing around, barking, jumping, etc. then it is most likely not a service animal. 

 

Remember how awesome Costco is? Like when they refused to raise the price of their hotdogs? Well, they're getting praise again in a service animal thread on Reddit after a service dog handler was pleasantly surprised by an employee's reaction to their service dog. 

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  • It's quite a simple task employees are supposed to do when they are inquiring about a service animal. And yet, there are many stories where a huge blow out and embarrassing situation happens instead. HERE is what you should actually be seeing from employees when they come in contact with a service animal inside of an establishment that doesn't allow dogs. 

  • SERVICE DOG
    via Unsplash+ (and Andy Luo)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "Employee at Costco actually knew the two questions"

    I was at Costco and was ready to scan my membership card. Before I could get out my card the man standing by the scanners said "no dogs" I replied "they are a service dog." I was ready
    via Rayanna77
  • for him to ask for paperwork instead he said "I'm going to ask you two questions and that's it." I said "no problem!"
    via Rayanna77
  • He then said "is that a service dog for a disability" I responded "yes" Then he asked "what task do they perform?"
    via Rayanna77
  • I responded "medical alert..." I was about to explain the task further but he then said "perfect welcome in"
    via Rayanna77
  • It was so refreshing that he actually knew the law. I thought would share here that not everyone is a j and there are people that know the ADA and don't ask for nonexistent paperwork.
    via Rayanna77
  • Cheezburger Image 10496558080
    via Unsplash+ (and Sean Lee)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • sahafiyah76 We are always asked the two questions at our local Costco. One of the few places we are asked it routinely and consistently. I attribute that to great training!
    via sahafiyah76
  • Imaginary-Angle-42 Costco does seem to have good training. Based on how I saw them respond during a store evacuation event they practice their training too. I was impressed.
    via Imaginary-Angle-42
  • Howdy08 I had a similar experience recently and was super glad that they asked the two questions rather than just letting me in. It was a bit awkward since the employees had never encountered a service dog before but things got sorted quick and it went well.
    via Howdy08
  • Previous-Ad4239 - Just as an aside what the ADA actually says is "if" there is any doubt the dog is a service dog they can ask those questions - getting ready for our third service dog as our 2nd dog is Getting ready to retire soon
    via Previous-Ad4239
  • kelpangler That's great! I appreciate it when businesses know the questions. There's a restaurant I frequent that asks this at each of their locations which means they're training this at the corporate level. We need more of this from businesses.
    via kelpangler
  • bridgetgoes Costco is a good company. They went out of their way to announce they are maintaining their DEI policies after a certain orange man took them away in government
    via bridgetgoes
  • Personal-Heart-1227 When legit Stores like Costco ask these questions it's not bc they're trying to pry or even be nosy. They're trying to w d about those abusers sneaking their pooches in. That's why he abruptly cut you off, then promptly welcomed you in!
    via Personal-Heart-1227
  • I'm a Costco Member, but NOT all Warehouses are equal in this treatment either. It sounds like your Warehouse is well educated & really good about letting in legit Service Animals, too. Which I was happy to hear. YAY!!!
    via Personal-Heart-1227
  • MeatPopsicle81 I worked at a hotel that was not pet friendly for many years. I always asked the 2 questions when presented with a "Service Animal." So many people tried to get one over, and they never knew those 2 questions. "Do you need the animal because of a disability?" "YOU cAn't Ask mE ThAt!" "Well since you are unable or unwilling to answer the questions the ADA has laid out to identify service animals, I can only assume this is not a service animal. I'm very sorry, but we are not pet fri
    via MeatPopsicle81
  • VICE DOG
    via AmbassadorIBX
  • HystericalHypothetic I was in my Costco a week or so ago, and there was a woman walking in front of me with a dog in a vest who was pulling ahead and trying to smell everything. The employee asked the first question, and she said yes. He asked her the second one, and she said "that's none of your business; I don't need to answer you" and walked on in. I scanned my card and said if
    via HystericalHypothetic
  • that was a real service dog, she would have had no problem answering your legal question. He agreed and said he was going to notify security after the line was cleared. I didn't see her again, so I have no idea if she was asked to leave. I really wanted to hunt her down and follow her around, but my husband wouldn't let me
    via HystericalHypothetic
  • monqwel I randomly stopped in at my local Ikea last Monday mid-afternoon to fritter away some time on my commute to class so I wouldn't be too early. It was one of those beautiful sunshiney spring days that make you believe in summer again, so it was super empty. I was wandering through the showroom when I heard a dog bark. I thought it odd as I don't usually hear service dogs bark. Turns out, it was training day and they had a bunch of dogs with their handlers learning in the real world. Best I
    via monqwel
  • ALinkToTheSpoons Part of why they're so good at it is because many years ago, a Costco in WA (Bham, IIRC) was sued - wrongfully, by an ESA owner- and Costco won. Once they realized they did things correctly and didn't have to fear being wrongfully sued, they did their best to make sure every store operates properly when it comes to service dogs. Now, not every location is perfect but if you reach out to corporate, they're typically very easy to work with and are happy to provide extra training.
    via ALinkToTheSpoons

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