Readers are sending more photos of dogs in places they don’t belong. Starbucks says it’s following the law.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Is it safe to eat at a Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) in Palm Beach County? That’s the question many readers — and possibly county officials — are asking after BocaNewsNow.com published a series of photos of dogs in Starbucks stores. Many readers tell BocaNewsNow.com that the dogs are gross and unsanitary, creating a “dirty” and “unsafe” environment for other customers.
Florida and federal law prohibits farm animals from being in restaurants, supermarkets and other places where food is served. Emotional support animals — which are largely considered artificial — are not farm animals and do not qualify. Fearing fines or worse from authorities, many area stores are now putting up signs and enforcing a “no pets” policy. But Starbucks apparently refuses to comply with the law. BocaNewsNow.com readers regularly send in photos of dogs in Starbucks locations in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and throughout South Palm Beach County. We’ve learned that several of them are in the process of filing complaints with state and federal authorities.
As we reported last month, Starbucks spokeswoman Amanda Oliver claims Starbucks is doing nothing wrong, but refused to explain how the company separates trained service animals from dogs, who are obviously just “pets.”
“The Florida Department of Agriculture (FDA) Food Code specifically requires the acceptance of service animals in food establishments. Our company policy complies with all relevant provisions of the FDA Food Code and extends statewide acceptance of service animals to our customers in Florida.”
The latest pictures obtained by BocaNewsNow.com show people eating at a Starbucks in Boynton Beach with two dogs at the table. According to witnesses, neither of them are service animals. The other is the man with the dog at the Starbucks in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park. Our source says this one is not a service animal either.
Supermarkets like Publix are trying to enforce the laws by telling customers who try to bring pets into their stores that they are not allowed. Signs like the one pictured above are now hanging at Publix stores nationwide. More signs like the one pictured below are popping up across the region.
Send us your pictures of dogs in Starbucks stores – or other places where they don’t belong – using the contact form in the menu above.
