Bone appetit; let dogs dine
Four-legged guests banned from eateries
We have a bone to pick with the City of Columbus, following an edict by its health department reminding restaurants, pubs and coffee shops that dogs may not join their humans on patios.
Meanwhile, porch patrons may smoke away, as if exposure to carcinogens is healthier.
The fur is sure to fly over this ruling. People love their pooches. And Columbus is a tourist destination. What are travelers to do with their pup while enjoying the many city dog parks, dog-friendly hotels and other pup-accommodating attractions? Leaving a dog alone in a car, especially during the hot summer, is dangerous. Don’t do it. Ever.
Most dog owners regard their dog as a family member. When they go out, they want their fur baby to join them.
Yes, dogs can carry disease. That’s why states and cities that do permit dogs at eating establishments have rules, such as requiring rabies tags to be visible on collars and barring servers from petting the dogs. And while most pet owners are responsible and would walk Fido first, dogs can lift a leg at a planter when an interesting smell greets those big snouts, so sanitation requirements should be spelled out and dogs should be leashed.
Not to be indelicate, but babies have diaper blowouts or hurl up milk; they don’t get banned from swimming pools, let alone from coffeeshop patios.
A well-mannered dog lying at his master’s feet might waft a bit of fur in the wind, but birds also fly overhead (for a nibble of abandoned scone), and squirrels and chipmunks also gamble about in search of upscale grub. Is the health department doing anything about these varmints?
Worse, many urban restaurant rows are battling rats. When will our city and our state recognize the loyal terrier or fearless dachshund as a defender of public health? A twitchy nose and eager disposition beats poison.
To be fair, Columbus isn’t being mean. Its health administrator was responding to several queries about whether animals are allowed on licensed premises. He concluded the answer is “no” under state health code, though service animals can be permissible.
Columbus, an enlightened and family-friendly city that celebrates inclusiveness, should encourage a change in state code to provide cities with discretion. A bill to allow dogs on restaurant patios passed the Michigan Senate last fall and awaits approval by its House. Is Ohio to be beaten by Michigan? California also allows its canine population on restaurant patios, as does Denver and several other leading cities.
Ohio’s health-code concerns were likely based on legitimate concerns, but as with the smoking ban, societal expectations change. And other cities and states now have years of experience with this.
Private businesses should be allowed to decide whether to admit dogs to patios, just as Ohio’s smoking law permits this choice. People with allergies who would rather dine sans doleful gazes directed to their burgers could eat inside or choose a muttless establishment. Leashed dogs aren’t banned from parks, where people picnic. Why ban them from a coffee-shop patio where most drinks are covered, or from a bar patio where ample grain alcohol might kill a stray germ?
Meanwhile, several Columbus businesses have taken steps to comply with the Ohio rules, removing water bowls or treat jars. Others are pushing back, hoping government’s bark is worse than its bite.