
As pet ownership rises across the US, government rules restaurants can allow dogs in outdoor dining spaces
Fox News
The United States government ruled that restaurants could allow dogs in outdoor spaces. The new ruling comes as pet ownership in the country continues to rise.
"I’d like to be able to enjoy my meal without having to worry about fleas, pet hair, barking and entitled dogs and their owners," said Tracy Chiu Parisi, a food blogger in New York, who was once startled by a dog that stuck its head in her lap while she was reading a menu.
Restaurants have been required to allow service dogs for decades. But it wasn’t until the mid-2000’s that a handful of states — including Florida and Illinois — began passing laws allowing dogs in outdoor dining spaces, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University. Twenty-three states now have such laws or regulations.
But the legal landscape is confusing. Michigan law doesn’t allow dogs in outdoor dining spaces, for example, but lets restaurants apply for a variance from their county health department.