Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 02/24/2006 2:12:05 PM PST by freepatriot32
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Some Florida cities would like to throw a dog a bone _ or maybe a burger and some fries. Dogs would be able to sit with humans at outdoor restaurant tables in some communities under a measure advancing in the Florida Legislature.
The bill, approved by a House committee Wednesday, would create a three-year test program to allow cities to grant restaurants that want to host dogs special permission to do so under certain conditions.
Rep. Sheri McInvale, an Orlando Republican, filed the bill after some restaurant owners complained because they were threatened with fines for allowing doggy dining. The city supports the proposal.
"We are getting a renaissance downtown," said Kathy Russell, Orlando's director of government relations. "We've got designer restaurants and designer dogs, and (people) would like to have a designer cup of coffee with their designer dog."
Dogs would only be allowed to dine at outside tables under the plan. No restaurant would be required to let the dogs in, and cities would not be required to offer the variance from the law that normally bars canines. The dogs also would have to be on leashes.
But some say giving Fido a seat at the table raises serious questions. The issue of dog bites may be a concern for individual restaurant owners, McInvale said. The bill would require restaurants to have $1 million worth of liability insurance to be eligible to be exempted from the law.
"Everybody's not a dog person, and some people are afraid of dogs," said Rep. Terry Fields, a Democrat.
Tiffany Hickem, who shuttles her 9-month-old shelty Delaney between her home in Delray Beach and Gainesville where Hickem is a student at the University of Florida, would love to take the puppy to restaurants.
It would mean fewer hours Delaney would have to hang out at home all alone.
"Anytime I can take her out and do something with her, even if it's while I'm doing something, it gives her a chance get a little more socialized," Hickem said.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is against the bill because different restaurants will have to follow different laws depending on what city they're in. The restaurant lobby probably won't howl too loudly about the proposal, though.
"Our membership is somewhat split on this," said the FRLA's general counsel, Richard Turner, who, for the record, has a puppy at home.
The bill has one more committee stop to make before it can go to the full House for a vote. A similar measure is awaiting Senate committee hearings. Some lawmakers still have questions _ albeit humorous ones.
"Does it mean if we pass this bill, it would eliminate doggy bags?" asked Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
not a smoking ping buta hypocrisy ping the same pols that wont allow you to let smoking take place are tryingot force resturant owners to allow dogs to eat at resturants
Don't worry. Wait till these dogs start to wee wee on kids shoes sitting next to the offending table, and fathers start to produce 44 magnums and taking them (the dogs of course) out of action.
Wonder how long before a misunderstood pitt bull rips off a kids face while they're eating a burger.
Canines aren't allowed to smoke at the tables though!! This is just plain stupid. Doesn't the Florida Legislature have anything better to do...like govern.
My beautiful Lola already goes with me to dine Al Fresco at Paneras and outdoors for coffee at Starbucks. Get over it...in Europe dogs are allowed IN many restaurants and on buses, subways and trains.
Didn't you read the article you posted? What's up with that?
See. I can use more appropriate grammatic constructs.
Doesn't match up with the article's statement: No restaurant would be required to let the dogs in,
Chicago allows dogs to dine along with owners outside if the proprietor allows . . . .
I have dog germs! Get some hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine!
In all fairness, the article specifically says no restaurant would be forced to allow dogs in the outdoor dining area. I personally agree that a business owner should have the freedom to decide who his target market is, whether it be dog owners, smokers, or whatever.
Doggy ping
Are the dogs allowed to play cards? Since they can't smoke you know.
It's also very common in Europe
NO.
This is a republican bill.
It allows each restaurant to choose whether or not to accept dogs.
So9
I used to hang-out at a bar in Chicago where the owner's guard dog (a big-a** German Shepherd) would drink out of your beer if you left it unattended while visiting the bathroom.
Friend you might want to use the spell feature graciously supplied by FR before posting.....
The world has gone nuts. I am convinced of it.
Most places I went to were much more accomodating to dogs than to children. Dogs were expected to be in full control, and I rarely even noticed one other than when coming or going unless I looked under a table. Children on the other hand...no one really expected them to be able to behave at all times.
Who's going to remove the fecal coliform bacteria from the seat after the dog gets finished rubbing his butt on it?
My kinda dog!
Thanks for clarifying that. That was my first question - is it a mandate or repeal of a regulation. If knees are gonna jerk, they should at least jerk from reliable data.
And there are plenty of businesses here who keep dogs in their offices also.
If I understand the article correctly: it is going to allow dogs on the patios only and not require that they be allowed. Sounds like it is up to the owner to me. Just removing the ordinance preventing the activity.
That's not how I read this...I read this that if an establishment wants to allow dogs, they can...I don't think they'll be forced to. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Avoiding comment on whether this suggestion is right or wrong, I generally disagree with making decisions based on what's happening in Europe.
Couldn't agree more!!
Dogs outdoors at restaurants is illegal in Florida? Since when?
The law prohibiting dogs to be with their owners outdoors at restaurants is ignored here in Miami Beach. In fact, quite the opposite: Restaurants definitely do /not/ want to have an anti-dog reputation.
Of course, if that dog lights up a cigarette outdoors...
Why do so many assume that because something is done in Europe, we should do it here:
IN EUROPE:
The drinking age is 16, but the driving age is 18
A man of 30 having sex with a 16 year old is accepted
Prostitution is legal
Marijuana and hash are sold at drive through windows (Venlo, NL)
Nuclear power plants supply a far larger percentage of the electrical requirements
Female bathroom attendents are often stationed in men's bathrooms
Cousins who marry can be heads of states (Not Arkansas)
Prostitutes are stationed in glass booths on public display for all to see (including minors)
They drive Citroens
They eat horses, snails and rodents (rabbits).
They make wine by stomping grapes with their feet (Port)
And they allow their dogs to dine at restaurants!
The proper solution is obvious: allow the owners of restaurants to decide if they will permit the clients to enter with their pets or to smoke, or even to permit some clients to smoke and enter with their pets but to exclude others.
I understand that in the US it is perhaps necessary to have laws forcing certain owners to permit black people to enter their establishments, but that restriction is obvious. These other things, telling people where they may smoke, or telling people where they may take their pets, why, precisely, is this the business of the state at all?
It does not seem very free to have such rules on everything anyone wishes to do with his restaurant.
Who's going to remove the fecal coliform bacteria from the seat after the dog gets finished rubbing his butt on it?
You eat off of seats in restaurants?
Listen to the dawg haters howl - he peed on me! Shoot him!!
Never met a dawg hater who didn't make me want to hurl chunks - worst hard on cranks you can find.
Restaurant dog areas are common in a lot of states.
If you get any dog coliform on your tushy at a restaurant don't worry - the human carnivora flora in dirty human intestines usually wipes it out - if your beer farts don't fry it first that is.
I demands mah rights to dine in the dog area and kick up a stink! Dey gots woims ya know.....
What I want to know is who is going to remove the fecal bacteria from the seat after you are finished rubbing your nasty streptococcal behind all over it?
Now that was entertaining. Happy Friday to you!
Wait till the gang bangers show up with their pit bulls and fifi at the next table becomes an entre...
You cant smoke a Camel but you can bring your Pit Bull to lunch. Makes sense to someone I guess. Nothing like eating lunch and stepping in dog doo on the way out.
Why would you say this? Why would any one say this?
If I understand this correctly, rather than forcing restaurant owners to admit dogs, it eliminates the regulations that prevent them from admitting dogs.
In other words, more freedom of choice.
the same pols that wont allow you to let smoking take place are tryingot force resturant owners to allow dogs to eat at resturants
Well, as long as the dogs aren't SMOKING, I see no problem with this. I can't believe that anyone would mind watching a dog licking it's butt while they eat. /sarcasm
"I can't believe that anyone would mind watching a dog licking it's butt while they eat. /sarcasm"
Yeah, but if the dog's licking his balls, the guys get envious.
Many strange things happen in the "State that could not vote straight."
I'll go for a few of these...like nuclear power.
I don't.
I did not mean to say..if they do it in Europe its better or ok. I was just pointing out that not all civilized societies ban doggies in restaurants.
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