Coffee for me. Champagne for my furry friend…Photo by Jeffrey Wade.
A bill allowing dog owners to dine with their pooches at outdoor tables has passed both the state assembly and state senate and is now sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature to become law. In the meantime, we’ve already seen several customers dining with their pooches in just the past few days.
The man above was sitting last week outside French Roast Cafe at 85th street and Broadway. The new law, championed by local State Assemblyman Linda Rosenthal, would allow dogs onto outdoor patios or sidewalk cafes if the restaurant operator approves and the dogs are on a leash, among other conditions.
Some locals are clearly excited. “We will definitely bring Gumbo to the outdoor sections of dog friendly restaurants. She is part of our family,” wrote Rob Polishook, the owner of Gumbo, pictured below. “In Europe, California, and other states dogs are welcome. I never heard of anyone getting sick from a dog. Humans maybe but not dogs!”
Check out the full text of the bill below. We promise to bark once when it’s signed.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2 1352-e to read as follows: 3 S 1352-E. COMPANION DOGS AT FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS. 1. COMPANION 4 DOGS UNDER THE CONTROL OF A PERSON MAY BE ALLOWED IN AN OUTDOOR DINING 5 AREA AT A FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT IF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS 6 ARE SATISFIED: 7 (A) THE OWNER OF THE FOOD FACILITY ELECTS TO ALLOW COMPANION DOGS IN 8 ITS OUTDOOR DINING AREA OR A DESIGNATED PORTION OF IT, AND SUBJECT TO 9 ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY MAY ESTABLISH; 10 (B) A SEPARATE OUTDOOR ENTRANCE IS PRESENT WHERE COMPANION DOGS ENTER 11 WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT TO REACH THE OUTDOOR DINING 12 AREA AND COMPANION DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON CHAIRS, BENCHES, SEATS OR 13 OTHER FIXTURES; 14 (C) THE OUTDOOR DINING AREA IN WHICH COMPANION DOGS ARE ALLOWED IS NOT 15 USED FOR FOOD OR DRINK PREPARATION OR THE STORAGE OF UTENSILS. A FOOD 16 EMPLOYEE MAY REFILL A BEVERAGE GLASS IN THE OUTDOOR DINING AREA FROM A 17 PITCHER OR OTHER CONTAINER; EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06812-07-5 A. 5956--C 2 1 (D) FOOD AND WATER PROVIDED TO COMPANION DOGS SHALL ONLY BE IN 2 SINGLE-USE DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS; 3 (E) FOOD EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FROM HAVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH 4 COMPANION DOGS WHILE ON DUTY. A FOOD EMPLOYEE WHO DOES HAVE SUCH PROHIB- 5 ITED DIRECT CONTACT SHALL WASH HIS OR HER HANDS AS REQUIRED BY LAW; 6 (F) THE OUTDOOR DINING AREA IS MAINTAINED CLEAN. SURFACES THAT HAVE 7 BEEN CONTAMINATED BY DOG EXCREMENT OR OTHER BODILY FLUIDS SHALL BE 8 CLEANED AND SANITIZED; 9 (G) THE COMPANION DOG IS ON A LEASH OR CONFINED IN A PET CARRIER AND 10 IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANION DOG OWNER; 11 (H) THERE IS REASONABLE SIGNAGE INDICATING THAT COMPANION DOGS ARE 12 ALLOWED IN THE OUTDOOR DINING AREA OR A DESIGNATED PORTION OF IT. THE 13 SIGNAGE SHALL STATE THAT RESTRICTIONS ON COMPANION DOGS DO NOT APPLY TO 14 GUIDE, HEARING OR SERVICE ANIMALS; 15 (I) THE FOOD FACILITY OWNER ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL ORDINANCES 16 RELATED TO SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC NUISANCE AND SANITATION; AND 17 (J) SUCH OTHER CONTROL MEASURES APPROVED BY THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ARE 18 COMPLIED WITH. 19 2. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT IMPAIR OR DIMINISH THE RIGHT OF AN INDIVID- 20 UAL TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ANIMAL WHERE OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY LAW, 21 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 22 USING GUIDE, HEARING OR SERVICE ANIMALS. 23 3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION: 24 (A) "FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT" SHALL MEAN ANY BUSINESS WHICH HAS 25 AREAS, INCLUDING OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS, IN WHICH FOOD IS SOLD FOR 26 ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION. 27 (B) "COMPANION DOG" SHALL MEAN A DOMESTICATED DOG ACCOMPANYING AN 28 INDIVIDUAL OR OWNER FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPANIONSHIP OR CONVENIENCE OF 29 SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR OWNER, AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE GUIDE, HEARING OR 30 SERVICE DOGS. 31 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Rob asks: ”Would you turn this dog down?”
Note: The dog at the top of this post may be a service animal, which would mean it is already allowed to dine with its owner.
Great news. About time. Wish I still had a dog. 🙂
Well, there’s one chair / establishment to avoid….
Absolutely. Sitting on a chair in a restaurant?? I like dogs but come on…
Yeah, I mean I’m all in favor of dining with pets, but come on!
This wasn’t already legal? Or am I missing something
I take my dog all the time to brunches all over the UWS in outdoor seating and I see other people doing it constantly. Places like Elizabeths, Gabrielas, Mila Cafe, Jackson Hole etc. Just about any restaurant with outside seating.
Technically dogs are currently allowed if they are OUTSIDE the magic canvas/picket fence/sidewalk barrier.
SECTION 1, LETTER B … “Dogs are not allowed on chairs, benches or other fixtures” Hmmmm … entitled much?
It’s nice to see how the State Senate and Assembly have more sense than the board at 170 WEA.
Wow, great news. Pooch and I running over to 170 to take a pee and celebrate.
Great news for all dog lovers. Much prefer dining with dogs than with noisy, badly-behaved children who get a free pass.
Really? This is what the NY legislature thought was important to accomplish this session?
YEAH!!!!!!
I”m a dog owner who is super excited to eat at more restaurants with my dog. But I am so worried some dog owners will abuse this. Dogs need to stay on the ground and be leashed and well behaved (owners have that responsibility). Please, dog owners, just follow the rules — it won’t be respectful otherwise to other patrons or to the restaurant staff.
Nicely said K. I hope all or even most dog owners are like you. I fear they are not.
Thumbs down to the antichild poster. You’ll probably die alone with only your cats mourning your loss.
With respect to the dog law, I like taking poochy to brunch, I hope all dog owners will keep them off the seats! How many owners wipe their pooches after a #2? 😉
Alex, I wipe my dog with baby wipes
Sorry, got cut off. I clean my dog with baby wipes after every #2. 🙂 This was recommended by my vet. But I would not let my dog sit on a chair at a restaurant. She sits on the floor next to me, quietly. I think most dog owners are responsible. I know I am.