Woman confronted after dog defecates on a grocery store floor. Then she claims it’s a service animal and says, ‘Every one of you does it, too’

A viral social media video has caused debate about service animals in public. In the clip, a woman called her dog a service animal during a confrontation inside an unspecified grocery store. The clip, shared by X user Goofies Of Chicago, appears to show shoppers reacting after a dog defecated on the store floor.

The video’s caption states, “Another day, another ‘trust me, it’s a service dog.’ She walked into the store with her dog off leash, then claimed it was a service dog after it relieved itself right there in public. Real service dogs go through extensive training and are expected to be under control.”

During the exchange, the woman defended the animal after another person questioned what had happened. “First of all, he’s a service animal,” she said. Someone off camera responded, “Wait, come on, not in the store.”

According to the woman, the alarmed onlookers were the problem, not the dog.

According to the footage, the woman then continued, “Second of all, y’all are the ones making this weird.” She added, “It’s biological. Every one of you does it, too; you just do it in a room.”

The incident prompted reactions online, including comments from people who identified themselves as service dog handlers or trainers. One commenter wrote, “Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an animal classified as a service animal must be housebroken to maintain its legal protection.”

That statement aligns with guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice. The ADA allows businesses that serve the public to remove a service dog if it is not housebroken or if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.

Another commenter claimed prior experience with a service dog organization, writing, “was involved with Mid American Service Dog organization in Hinsdale for many years with my daughter with disabilities. THIS is no service dog and SD are never off leash in public.”

The ADA does not require service dogs to remain on a leash at all times. Federal guidance states that handlers generally must harness, leash, or tether service animals unless those devices interfere with the dog’s work or the handler’s disability prevents their use. Even in those situations, the handler must maintain control through voice commands, signals, or other effective means.

Federal rules require grocery stores and food businesses to admit service animals. This applies even if the store normally prohibits pets.

However, businesses can require a service animal’s removal if it is out of control or not housebroken. In those cases, the business must still let the customer shop without the animal present.

Under the ADA, only dogs individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability qualify as service animals. Emotional support animals do not receive the same public access protections under federal law.