Dogs on restaurant patios make some MLive readers lose appetite

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Fido won't be coming to dinner, if MLive commenters have their way.

A majority of commenters were against a proposal by state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, to allow restaurants to decide whether to allow dogs in outdoor seating areas. The issue will be taken up by the House Tourism Committee Thursday. Some found the idea of dining with a canine unappetizing, while others worried about liability issues and those with severe allergies.

Said dobie3790: "That is great for those of you (and me) who take responsibility for the behavior of our pets, particularly in public. However, I am imagine that the more likely scenario will involve someone's Labrador slobbering over my sandwich and sniffing my dog's butt. At the dinner table? No thanks."

Dragonzwing14 also was opposed: "What about people with allergies? So now they can't dine outside because of animals now being able to dine with their owners? And really WHY does a dog or cat need to go to the restaurant with their pet owner? REALLY? Now, a 'work dog' -- that's another story but just because we think our 4-legged pets are our 'children' doesn't mean that other people have to tolerate your pet in public eating establishments."

Dog-lovers, however, cheered the prospect, which has become more common in other states in recent years.

Said cskeels: "This is awesome news We regularly take our son (Gustavo - German Shepard) on walks around Kalamazoo and love the stores downtown that let us bring him in (Sticks & Stones was the first we found that allowed this). To be able to go downtown and sit outside with him while eating and enjoying the atmosphere - awesome is all I can say."

One commenter who favored the proposed measure thought it would help make Michigan more up to date.

Go Tigers! "I really like this proposal. It makes sense both from a tourism and quality of life perspective. The Midwest is so often seen as ho-hum and unimaginative, this type of proposal is progressive. Furthermore, the vast majority of people who would bring their dog to a restaurant know their animal can handle the situation. If the dog cannot handle the situation the owner, if they are rational, will not bring the dog next time. There are many places in the area that dogs interact and I have never heard of an incident that was out of hand."

Others said that, if restaurants were going to be allowed to decide whether to admit dogs on their patios, why not grant them self-determination on other matters?

Said decaturmethodz: "So it will be up to the owner of the establishment whether or not they allow dogs. How nice they are given a choice as to how to run their own business unlike the smoking ban. And before anyone says that the customer would know ahead of time whether or not to go there, the same token that could be said for smoking in a say a bar. If ... dog allergens are not a concern as it is the great outdoors doesn't smoke dissipate also. And how about those phobic of dogs? Why should they have to be subjected to their presence? It is up to the restaurant owner? Of course this is how it should be in all aspects of how they want to run their business. If they want to allow dogs on their patios fine. If they want to allow smoking on their patio then they should be allowed to do that as well. If the patrons then chose to spend their money there it sounds as though everything works out fine, and the government really need not tell people how to run their business."

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Dogs on restaurant patios make some MLive readers lose appetite