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Animal ATTRACTION |
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March 2008
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 the only canine company customers will see at Barnaby's It's illegal to dine with your dog at Houston restaurants but now, a councilmember wants to change that. Along with the food and the drinks and the friendly service, Barnaby's restaurant offers a colorful decor: A dog in the desert... a dog in the snow... a dog in the jungle. "The dog is the owner's dog -- childhood pet," explained Karen Fitzgerald, restaurant manager. But you will no longer see the real deal. "A couple of weeks ago, we got ticketed and fined for it. And it's against the law, said Fitzgerald. Outside , a new sign warns patrons to stop bringing their pups to a restaurant whose very name seems to invite canine company. Barnaby's is not alone. A lot of Houston dining places welcome dogs. In fact, some of them even advertise themselves as dog friendly even though, in general, that's a violation of city ordinances. Houston's health ordinances specify the only live animals allowed in restaurants: fish, patrol dogs accompanied by officers; and dogs for the disabled. But in a city that's accomodating dogs with special taxpayer-funded parks, at least one city councilmember thinks the rule against dogs in dining areas needs to change. "I think we ought to let the free market work," said Councilmember Michael Berry. "If a restaurant wants to allow -- in their outdoor patio -- dogs to be out there, as long as they post a sign that says, 'Hey, there are going to be dogs out here,' what's wrong with that?" But for now, the only dogs at Barnaby's decorate the walls. 2 CommentsLeave a comment |
Good for Michael Berry! Dining with pets is allowed in other cities, so hopefully the 4th largest city in the US will recognize this law would increase business for several restaurants.
I hope this passes, but the way things are going with the Houston city council, they are interested in taking away rights, not creating laws that allow freedom.
We frequented Barnaby's and are very sad that we won't be able to until the rules change. It is a shame that the city and surrounding suburbs have made great advances with building dog parks in the last couple of years to now taking away one of the few other things we were able to do with our fur-kids during the few months it's cool enough for us to sit outside to eat. I hope Mr. Berry and other city council members will vote to make it ok for those restaurants who want to allow dogs on the patios to do so without penalties/fines. Customers who don't like having well behaved dogs are on the patio with their parents don't have to eat there just like those of us who don't have human kids don't have to go to those restaurants that are more "kid friendly".