I am in huge favor of the bill, and wish the rest of the U.S. would follow suit. I don't think people intentionally take their dogs out to eat when they dine. But the option would be nice, for those of us who bring their dogs while running errands, etc. and suddenly find that we're hungry. Sitting down to an impromptu meal with my dog plopped down my feet would be great, and convenient. Europe does it, and then some. America is too formal.

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to continue with my snarkiness of late, people want to bring their dogs to meals for two reasons:

1) they're out somewhere, maybe doing that dog walking dating thing, and they want to eat. Totally reasonable.

2) They feel that owning a dog and spending time and money on it entitles them to be able to bring their dog places and have people not be offended. Ahem. That's nothing at all like taking your screaming toddlers out somewhere and being offended when people find it distasteful and annoying.

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Or maybe we simply would like to spend time with our best friend. :-)

Europeans are fine with this, and we should be, too. All it requires is good sense. For example, only two of our three dogs have public dining privileges--and only one at a time so that we can be assured we won't cause a disruption. The other would be too, er, assertive in that environment.

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We've been to a few places with outdoor seating in Montreal who will allow our dog to accompany us (he is generally well-behaved, but he is a large dog). It's not the usual situation that we'll be out at mealtime with him and suddenly decide to eat something, but rather it'll be an extremely hot evening and the apartment will be an oven. We'd rather "treat" our pet by taking him out with us for a nice night on a terrace because it's just as hot for him as it is for us.

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The problem with this bill is all of the stupid people who do not keep their dogs in check and think it is cute how the dogs begs for food from other people.

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(tag teams with Hawk) Ummm, it's a dog...not a child and I doubt it's actually your best friend. Dogs present health and safety issues that neither of those two groups do (well, most of my friends, at least *grin*)

We're talking about a public place designed for food consumption and I really don't want your puppy's hair, slobber, or anything else flying around. Not to mention that the whole butt-licking thing is just soooo appetizing.

I live in WA where they are currently banning cigarette smoking in public, restaurants and bar first, then within 25 feet of the entrance to pretty much any building. Are second-hand dogs truly any less problematic? (allergies, annoyance, fear)

And what about my friend who has rats as pets, can she bring them to the cafe too? It'd probably stay in her shirt pocket or in its basket on the table. Promise.

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I have recently returned from Stuttgart, Germany, and was pleasantly surprised by all the dogs that were with their owners at the mall and cafes inside the mall. All were well behaved and under 20 pounds.

I think it would be nice to be able to stop by a eatery if I am walking with my dog - however I have to agree with comment #5. The stupid and/or selfish people of the world would believe that bringing in a 200 lb Rottweiler would be okay. Ditto with smelly and or noisy critters.

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