Health Officials Gather Opinions About Dogs On Patios

In an effort to understand whether or not Long Beachs restaurant owners would like to legally allow dogs on restaurant patios, Department of Health and Human Services officials are reaching out to area business associations for public input about the idea.

During the May Belmont Shore Business Association meeting, Nelson Kerr and Jackie Hampton from the health department talked to business owners about potentially developing a more flexible policy for the regulation of dogs on restaurant patios.

In April, the City Council gave us 90 days to develop a policy about outdoor patio dining with dogs, Kerr said, adding that the idea was brought forth by City Council members Robert Garcia, Suja Lowenthal and Gary DeLong. This wont necessarily be a new ordinance, just an amendment with options for owners businesses wont have to have dogs on their patios if they dont want to. We are planning on going back to City Council very soon and would love to go back in July at some time.

Kerr, the departments bureau manager, explained that historically animals have been prohibited from retail food facilities, including outdoor patios. However, other counties, including Los Angeles County, have loosened up on the rules when it comes to patio dining.

Right now we are just brainstorming, Kerr said. We want feedback and then well go back for approval from City Council and start to roll out a program.

If the rule loosening for outdoor patio dining is approved by City Council, Kerr said the health department will work to prepare a mass campaign for education for customers as well as business owners. Restaurant owners likely will want to post signage if their patio is dog friendly, with certain restrictions (for instance, restaurant owners may specify that dogs are not allowed on laps or on the tables and are not allowed to eat off plates or drink out of glasses intended for human use).

Certainly we have to be careful when we allow dogs on patios because they may have bad behavior or they may have an accident (pee or poop) Kerr said. We think there is some risk, but that risk can be controlled by good policy and best management practice. We will provide recommendations and guidelines for business owners if they are going to employ this.

Most of the business owners at the Belmont Shore meeting, as well as other meetings around the city, support the loosening of the outdoor patio rules, Kerr said. In fact, many restaurant owners in Long Beach already bend the rules and allow dogs on outdoor patios, and all restaurant owners at the Belmont Shore meeting said they would allow dogs on their patios if the restrictions are loosened.

Most of the feedback is very positive, and it is becoming more and more acceptable to have animals out with people in public, Kerr said. We are seeing it more and more with people bringing their dogs out to eat I havent really heard any negative feedback from any of the presentations weve made weve reached out to the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, business associations and the Council of Business Associations.

Still, Dede Rossi, executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association, said she has concerns about the rule change. In particular, she is worried that some restaurant owners who do not allow dogs on their patios might lose business from pet owners.

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Health Officials Gather Opinions About Dogs On Patios