No Pet Policy
The Northeast Farmers Market has been a dog-friendly market since opening in 2000, and many dogs have been coming to the market for years now. We know them by name, we know their owners, and we looked forward to seeing them every Saturday. It has been a place for our furry friends to gather, accept treats from vendors, and get a mobile dog wash.
However, growth of the market has crowded the shopping aisles during peak spring and summer months, pushing dogs and people, especially children, closer together. The number of dogs has also increased rapidly. Counts in 2019 numbered 80-100 dogs per hour!
In the past few years, we’ve had concerns over safety and sanitary issues from health officials. Conversations have been had about dogs jumping on vendor tables and coming in contact with food, as well as dogfights, safety of children, and dogs relieving themselves in proximity of food.
As a result of these trends, and after much consideration, the Board of Directors has decided that dogs will no longer be allowed inside the market. It wasn’t an easy decision, and the dogs will be dearly missed, but this is the best policy to keep Northeast Farmers Market safe, welcoming, and inclusive.
We hope you take this decision with understanding and continue to enjoy our neighborhood market that still has so much to offer!
Service dogs will be allowed at all times at the Market.
Locally yours,
Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market
Service Dogs Are Welcome at Farmers' Markets
Just a reminder that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that businesses and non-profits that are open to the public must allow service animals to go most places where the public can go. Service dogs are not pets, so while many farmers' markets in Minnesota have a "no pets" policy, service animals are very welcome.
What service animals are:
A. Dogs / Any breed or size of dog / Trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability
Is an emotional support or comfort dog a service dog?
A. No, because providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person’s disability
What questions can a covered entity's employees ask to determine if a dog is a service animal?
A. In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions:
(1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.
Do service animals have to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as service animals?
A. No. The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.
For more information on ADA and service animals visit: Service Animal Law