[category]
[title]
Press paws on the puppies: as of March 25, 2026, Royalmount has prohibited dogs from entering the mall.
Following ongoing problems with owners not cleaning up after their pets, the mall is allowing only certified service animals.
Read: The best malls in Montreal for shopping sprees
The announcement was made via a post on Royalmount’s Instagram stating:
“At Royalmount, we have always strived to create a welcoming environment for everyone, including dogs, who are an important part of many families. In recent months, we have seen an increase in hygiene-related incidents, including frequent situations where animal waste was not properly cleaned up. These occurrences have created conditions that are extremely difficult for our teams to manage and has compromised our ability to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and overall experience throughout the space. Despite the ongoing efforts of our maintenance teams, these situations have a direct impact on the cleanliness of the premises and, more importantly, on the hygiene standards we must uphold to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone, especially young children and families. In light of this, we have had to make the difficult decision to no longer allow dogs at Royalmount, in order to preserve a clean, safe, and enjoyable environment for all. We understand that this news may be disappointing, and we are truly sorry. Thank you for your understanding.”
Once a pet-friendly destination, Montrealears had some barking comments on Instagram:
“Why do you feel the need to bring your dog to the mall? Do you need his opinion when you shop,” asked one user, while another commenter stated: “Honestly, I have no “dog” in this fight - but you very much come off as entitled. It was a privilege and that’s that.”
A few comments focused on the obvious, like: “this is not a zoo or a park! It’s a damn mall,” “Exactly why they have dog parks,” and “I say this as someone who loves dogs (cats suck though).”
Some users weighed in with a little deeper commentary: “Décision complexe, et on comprend le pourquoi. En tant qu’experts, nous pouvons vous aider à trouver des solutions pour que tous les propriétaires d’animaux à Montréal puissent profiter sans pénaliser les autres,” and “...the people screaming this isn’t fair. What exactly isn’t fair? Do you think it’s okay for the other patrons of the mall to walk around in mess and because people aren’t cleaning up. What should the mall do? Hire extra staff just to clean? Who will pay for that.”
Children came up as a frequent topic with comments like: “Absurd that our city doesn’t accept dogs. The majority should rule, not the minority. Dogs are trained, just like kids, and it’s up to owners to keep them in check. We don’t ban kids from public areas just because they run or scream, so why dogs? Some people just don’t get it, pets are family!” and “I can say the same thing about kids. This should be an adult only mall. Crying, screaming, running around. Out with them!!!”
This resulted in a few comebacks along the lines of: “kids are not dogs,” “never compare dogs with kids. Kids don’t poop on the streets. Kids use diapers!” and “thank you for standing up for humans.”
Mental health also entered the chat with commentary like: “Didn’t think ‘dogs peeing in stores isn’t ideal’ would be so triggering” and “I’m sorry but your dog will not suffer not going to the mall.”
And last but not least, our constitutional monarch and parliamentary democracy got a shout-out: “news flash. That's how a democracy works.”
Check out Royalmount's Instagram here:
View this post on Instagram
RECOMMENDED:
Full guide to the best things to do in Montreal
Complete guide to the best restaurants in Montreal
Best attractions in Montreal