Actually, this probably has more to do with state laws, than individual store policy regarding food being sold, but I've always wondered why it's okay to have a dog eat with you if it's on a patio, but not in the restaurant. It like they think the dog germs will be more potent inside? :p

I wouldn't lie about having a service dog just so you can get away with it! That's just going to make it harder for people who really do have service pets. Leaving a pet in the car is not an option but rules are rules if you don't like them then keep your pet at home so you don't have these problems. I don't think the older couple were in the wrong they probably were looking out for the store & just didn't like the fact that you brought a dog in there. Doesn't matter if he's in a purse or not fact is you can't have PETS inside the store. I read all the comments and don't feel anyone is being judgemental but honestly what were you expecting from everyone? Sometimes people need to realize that yeah you may love them and they are so cute and your babies but they are still pets! Rules are rules. Just learn to follow them & you won't have these problems.

I think because on the patio you have people with dogs walking by anyhow and it is well circulated. :D If you are trying to have dinner inside with the smell of a dog or hair attaching to your food, it isn't very appetizing. :p

"In many areas of the country, inspectors have become more tolerant of pets. In Los Angeles, for instance, health inspectors allow dogs in outdoor café seating areas, provided there are no barricades separating diners from pedestrians, and that you don’t have to walk through the normal restaurant to get to the area, the way you would with a back patio."

Oh, I never thought about the smell, that's true, some dogs aren't bathed that often. My babies smell better than most people!

While I totally agree with you, I have heard that even though it's not right to lie about it, an establishment can't ask you for proof if you do say so. Don't know if it's true, but a friend of mine works at a supermarket and she said they aren't allowed to ask for proof.

There's a place here in CA called Lazy Dog Cafe. They started with the premise that you can bring your dogs in the patio. They even have a dog specific menu! You can't bring them anymore. :rolleyes: At least the location in Torrance you can't anymore. There's only one other location I know of and I don't go that area often. But they are building a new one near me so we'll see. But I heard the food is not that great.

This is off the Department of Public Health in LA
In February of 2012 a policy was created to allow restaurant owners the choice to allow animals on a open patio as long as the following was followed.

Guidelines for the Allowance of Pets in Outdoor Dining Areas

Pet dogs may be allowed to enter the exterior areas of a food facility's outdoor dinning area if the following requirements are met:

*A separate entrance is present where pets do not enter through the food establishment to reach the outdoor dining area.
*No food preparation shall be allowed at the outdoor dining area including the dispensing/mixing of drinks and ice.
*Customer multi-use or reusable utensils such as plates, silverware, glasses and bowls shall not be stored, displayed or pre-set at the outdoor dining area.
*Food and water served/provided to pets shall only be in single use disposable containers.
*Employee shall be prohibited from having direct contact with pets while on duty.
*Pets shall not be allowed on chairs, seats, benches, and tables.
*The outdoor dining area shall be maintained clean.
*In cases of excrement or other bodily fluids (urine, saliva, vomit), employee shall immediately clean and sanitize the affected areas.
*The outdoor dining area shall not be fully enclosed (a fully enclosed dining area shall be considered to be part of the interior area of the facility).
*Business operators are obligated to follow local city ordinances related to sidewalk, public nuisance, and sanitation issues.

For information on helpful hints for dining outdoors with your dog, please visit Department of Public Health.

Exactly, we take care of our little ones better then most. I have known people that rarely ever bathe their dogs but want to take them everyone. It is unfortunate that a few ruin it for others, but it is understandable.

In Los Angeles County there is a policy that allows business owners to make the decision at restaurants as long as it is outdoors and they comply with the rules under the policy. Most places it is a state law, but in some situations it is the choice of the owner.

I was not allowed to enter a Costco once when I tried to bring Uni in a bag when she was a puppy. I guess it depends on the door person.

Used to be Home Depot around here let you bring dogs in the garden dept. We brought Uni several times and she was walking on her own, no problems. I even saw a man bring his cat! Now on all the doors there is a huge sign that says no pets.

Therapy dogs are required to wear their therapy dog tages or patch on the vest.

It is odd to me how some restaurants let you take your dog out on the patio and some dont. The restaurant where my Son works wont let you because they say its a Health violation yet in the same city in a very dog friendly area of town they will let you at all the restaurants. They even bring out a dog bowl of water for your dog. If we ever move thats where we are going to move to

It depends on the area and the policies in place. If a policy is in place that allows dog, it is usually up to the owner to decide if he would like to allow dogs in. In short, it isn't mandatory that they allow dogs in, it is an option if they would like to implement (only in areas where a policy is in place).

In Dallas today I went into a Walgreen's and asked if Tibbe could come in and they okayed it. He rode in the baby seat in the cart, charmed everyone and we were in the drug section picking up drugs and the food section getting ice cream out of the refrigerated area. Wonder what the difference is with some stores where food and drugs are sold being ok with dogs being around and others not allowing it.

thank you milly...you totally get it!!

From what I understand is that if a place has fresh produce, butcher dept, etc then you can't. If it's just dry or frozen foods you can. I have seen a lot of people walking in to CVS and other drug stores with their dogs on a leash. Even a friend of mine called Ross' corporate headquarters and they said it was ok since they have dry/canned foods only.

The whole story with what my friend told me was there was a lady who brought in her chihuahua in her arms, no bag, no harness, no vest. They told her she can't bring her pets in the grocery store. She said, this is my seeing eye dog (clearly it isn't!) and they could not say anything or ask her for proof. Again don't know if it's true, this is what my friend told me. She worked at Ralphs

It's funny our Trader Joe's has a sign that says we love dogs out front with a lot of hooks for their leashes and a water bowl. Not exactly my idea of loving dogs, but better than nothing I suppose. I would never leave my girls hooked out front. I'm way too worried someone would take them. Plus, I think they would pitch a serious fit anyways.

Ha ha, another example of political correctness. :D

That makes sense. They would be wise to be more dog friendly. For example the hotels on Universal park in Florida are so pet friendly they have room service where you can get treats and food for your pets and they also have a littlee park for the dogs. Its luxurius type of hotels too. We go out of our way to stay there even if we dont have the yorkies with us to support them. Same for these restaurants that allow the dogs we go there often even if we dont have the dogs. They are also bicycle friendly in this area which we like also

I know I should link it but uall can look it up at least in CA the law per health code is if a place serves food dogs with the exception of properly identified service dogs are banned.

Ace hardware served coffee and popcorn our local one used to allow dogs, the owner brought his...a written warning later...big NO DOGS sign.

Ecven Costco giving free samples counts...weird buy when businesses here participate in an event called arts alive where local artist sisplay their art in local businesses and wine and snacks are served a couple placed received health code violations for community members bring their dogs in on that specific night.

How restraunts evade this with out door patios idk but maybe the outdoor part is exclusive to the law or its just too grey to bother enforcing.


I find it odd the lady who takes her cockatoo everywhere on her shoulder never gets kicked out...

I posted about this before.

Well, Tatiana is designated as a "service animal" based on my doctor's letter (which I carry in her pet carrier). In the letter, he recommends a "service/emotional support animal" for me.

On her pet carrier, I have a patch "service animal" sewn in. Also, on the same pet carrier, I have a plastic tag "service dog" attached like a dangling key fob.

Tatiana has access to all the places mentioned (Trader Joe's, The Home Depot, CVS, all restaurants, etc). She is in a pet carrier, with her head sticking out, at all times. The pet carrier doubles as my purse.

If anybody challenges that Tatiana is a service animal (from the establishment), I GIVE THEM a copy of the doctor's letter. I encourage them to call him, and have him paged. My doctor will vouch for me. Also, it helps that my doctor's letterhead letter is from a premiere medical facility (and incidentally he was recently published as one of the best doctors in our area).

Also, I NEVER had any fellow patrons challenge Tatiana's access. I guess they saw the "service animal" patch and tags on her carrier.

You MAY qualify in having your Bruno be designated as a service/emotional support animal by your doctor. Discuss this with your doctor. If you qualify, you can follow-though with that as I did, and I don't think you would have any access problems for Bruno.

I have to ask.
Did you have your dog do any training?
Did any trainer certify your dog as a therapy dog?

That is odd I would have thought in California it would be in the culture to be more dog friendly. I have evolved in my thinking since we started going to dog friendly restaurants. I used to think why does a dog really need to go to a restaurant or a target. But now I see why people want to take their dogs and I know with me I just like it that this certain area of my City is not only dog friendly it is people friendly. They have made all kinds of walking trails for walkers and bike riders have a nic dog park ad the restaurants are dog friendly. And these resttaurants are always packed busy with people

CA is totally dog friendly but really its about health code for food service.

In my small are we have all dog friendly trails with bag recepticles 2 specific dog parks and dog clean up all post all over the city.

We were one if the first...or were we the first to rule no smoking in restraunts and bars.

Its really all about not imposing on others, your second hand smoke, your dog...etc.

No. My doctor simply recommended a "service/emotional support animal" for my issues. Technically, Tatiana is an emotional support animal, but in my doctor's eyes, that's equivalent to service animal. A service animal assists in PHYSICAL issues (like blindness). An emotional support animal assists in MENTAL issues (in my case anxiety). To my doctor, they're both MEDICAL.

As I tell people, Tatiana is better than any medication my doctor can prescribe for me. No side effects. I think my doctor agrees.

The only "certification" I needed was from my doctor. The proof of certification was his letter.

My Lexie goes everywhere with me. She is a seizure alert dog for me. There is no training involved with this--they either have the ability or they don't. I always make sure that I have her ID tag on her with a vest, or at least the tag is attached to her carry bag. I've never had a problem once the tag is seen.

And yes, its true according to the ADA one is not to be questioned about validity of the service dog, your medical/psych condition.

:animal-pa Lexie's Mom :animal-pa

:eek: LOL omg really?!

When my dh and I went to visit my brother this summer we took Remy with us. On the way up I found a hotel that was pet friendly and paid a small fee. I did not want to sneak her in because it just wasn't worth it.

Eating was a problem though. We stoped at a fairly nice place, we took a booth way in the back and when the serving girl came we told her we had a dog in my bag and we would leave if it was a problem. She said, well if she was a therapy dog I couldn't ask you to leave.. so we will say she is a therapy dog. I said yes.. it is my therapy to not go crazy being married to him (pointing to dh) lol. We had a nice meal.

The next day we stoped at a small local hole in the wall bbq.. when ordering remy was whining and they were looking around. I said, Im sorry I will leave.. and they said "No" Everyone came over to see her and telling stories about their dogs.

We didn't have any problems in Bristol.. but only had her at outdoor places.

Now.. on the way back we were not so lucky.. had to eat fast food:( in the car. But that is ok!!!

btw.. I had her in a jaraden soho bag