Are dogs allowed in Whole Foods stores in Colorado?

With the exception of service animals, dogs and other live animals are prohibited at retail food establishments in Colorado, including grocery stores.

Dogs can carry disease-causing organisms, like rabies, salmonella and highly contagious noroviruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea. These illnesses can be passed to humans through bites, contact with urine or feces or direct contact with a dog, leaving unpackaged produce and food prepared onsite at supermarkets at risk of being contaminated.

Service animals, protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are permitted inside grocery stores and restaurants. Owners who misrepresent their pet as a service animal could face up to $500 in fines. 

In 2020, Colorado passed a law that opened the door for food establishments to allow pet dogs on their patios, subject to local restrictions. Two years later, the FDA updated its food codes to allow dogs in approved outdoor dining areas nationwide.