Canine-friendly businesses — a doggone good or bad idea?

More metro Atlanta businesses — from restaurants and hotels to department stores and home improvement centers — are making themselves “dog friendly,” welcoming people who bring their pooches.

As staff writer Leon Stafford reported in the AJC, canine lovers applaud the trend. They attest to the joys of companionship, and the belief their pets are family members just as much as children.

Skeptics, on the other hand, may wonder about liability in the event of dog bites, the reaction of those with allergies, and the response of customers who fear dogs or just don’t appreciate a four-legged creature imposing on their space.

And there’s always the issue of the inevitable — uh — accident.

A survey last year by VetStreet. com found 36 percent of readers supported dogs at restaurants and in stores; 31 percent were neutral, and 33 percent were opposed.

The trend is undeniable, though. The website BringFido. com counts 92 dog-friendly eateries in Atlanta. (Service dogs have always been permitted.)

On Nov. 1, the Georgia Department of Public Health issued regulations on canines in dining establishments. The rules say canines should be leashed, remain outside on dining patios and stay off the furniture. They cannot go inside restaurants on the way to the patios; touch food, plates or utensils, or be fed by customers or employees.

Dog-friendly places include such eateries as Buckhead Saloon, Nancy G’s Cafe and Einstein’s, retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe’s Macy’s, Bloomingdale and Barnes & Noble, and the Ellis Hotel, Hotel Indigo and Four Seasons Atlanta, the AJC reported.

Are businesses on the scent of success? Or are they barking up the wrong tree by possibly offending a third of their customers? Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com. Fayette County’s housing market seems to be gradually rebounding from recession-era reduced prices and slow sales. Real estate sources such as Realtor.com and Zillow.com currently show more than 500 houses currently for sale, ranging from $79,000 to $2.9 million. That’s quite a range, but illustrates the variety of options available to those looking to either upsize or downsize. New construction is rising as well. And since 2005, Peachtree City has regularly ranked highly on state and national “best places to live”listings. Individual home prices are still not back up to pre-recession levels, but the rebounding economy seems to be stimulating more turnover. What do Fayette residents think about the local market? My wife and I live in a small subdivision located in the northern part of Fayette County near the Fayetteville city limits. We purchased our modest home new in 1987 when we both were still employed . ... However, as its population grew, Fayette County attracted more businesses ... after which crime began to creep into the area and has increased. No longer does Fayette County have a rural ambience that it once had . ... Although home prices in our area have rebounded some in spite of crime, we will be surprised if they ever reach the level that existed in 2007 and prior . ... Lower home values significantly impact retirees because they eventually may need to sell their home and move into an assisted living community. I live in the Lake Windsong neighborhood in Tyrone. Our neighborhood has exploded with new home construction. There’s not much new construction on this side of town. New home prices are starting around $499,000. We also have a small lake and amenities; the neighborhood has a resort feel. — Jill Howard Church for the AJC