A woman in Plymouth, Minnesota, decided to bring along a dog covered in feces to a local Target. When confronted about it, she said it was a “service animal,” only for her to clarify that it was actually an “emotional support animal.” Neither she nor her pet left the store at all.
A clip of the woman and her dog was shared online by Sydney, a TikTok user. Her last post was shared in 2025, and her account usually shared concert clips and photos of cats. The video attached above became her most viral one, garnering 280,200 views in a day.
The Minnesota woman was inside the Target when she spotted a lady shopping while holding a white dog. Sydney said that the dog was “covered in poop.” The clip itself didn’t show the feces on the animal, but she shared a photo of the dog’s behind in the comments, where a visible stain was apparent.
Sydney directly asked the woman if the dog was a certified service animal. The lady responded, “Yes, she is.” However, when asked what the dog was certified to do, the woman said, “My son died a tragic death, and she helps me heal.”
“So she’s an emotional support animal?” Sydney asked immediately. The lady answered, “Exactly,” and Sydney clapped back, “She’s not a service animal, correct?” This was met with silence.
Sanitary Concerns
In the clip’s description, as well as at the end of the video, Sydney explained that her major concern was sanitary. After all, a dog covered in feces in the produce section is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, she decided to escalate the situation with a Target manager named Jesse.
Sydney, however, said that the manager allowed the woman and her dog to stay inside the store. She found this scandalous, as the Target had a sign posted that read, “No pets allowed, service animals only.” Also, she quoted the FDA lines, which state, “Pets and ESA’s are strictly prohibited,” as they violate health and food safety laws.
“This is disgusting,” the woman said.
Reactions
Many viewers seemed to agree with the Minnesota woman recording the issue. One wrote, “I hate seeing dogs in the store. They used to be way more strict.” Another one wrote, “Good for you for calling her out! I wish stores would hold people accountable.”
Others, however, believed Sydney was exaggerating. One wrote, “Toddlers are just as gross and are actually touching [expletive] in the store. The dog clearly is not.” Another commented, “I’ve seen nastier people in a store than that dog.”
For the time being, and based on the comments, it appears that this type of behavior will continue without anyone intervening.
