This is appropriate for the dog days of August - and it's all to do with dogs. If the "doggy dip" at Centennial Beach has been cancelled for health reasons, does it make any sense to have dogs on outdoor patios where people are consuming food. Something doesn't track here. Any valid reasons for not allowing dogs to swim , surely are outweighed by dogs being right next to restaurant patrons as they consume their favorite meals. Don't get us wrong - we love dogs but since we're on the subject of animals, isn't what's good for the goose as equally good for the gander. If dogs can't go for a dip should they be in a position to go for the French dip? Do dogs really belong in restaurants whether they're outside or inside?
Get along little doggies
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Personally, I prefer not eating too close to a dog or a cat.
I just don't like the idea that a dog or a cat may have previously
urinated or worse just under my table. I would like to believe
pet owners keep their dogs/cats clean with regular baths and such
but I've seen lots of dogs downtown that I just don't want to get
close to.
If I am eating outside and I see a dog/cat doing it, then I'll
be most upset with that owner and demand either the restaurant
or the owner of that pet pay my bill because dinner will be over
at that point.
What do pet owners think about that? Are you going to take the
responsibility? Probably not, just like some dog walkers who
let their dogs *$it in my yard and walk away.
One of my favorite things about Quigley's is the dog-friendly outside area. A well trained dog causes absolutely no problem.
People who take their dogs out to eat and swim are responsible dog owners. My dog, as pictured in the article, has never eaten off a plate (if he eats, I had him food), he has never gone to the bathroom in an inappropriate area. I have been to Quigleys on a number of occasions when there have been 6-7 dogs on the patio, everyone was very well behaved, no one got up and left, or looked disgusted because their were dogs there.
Why would I want to go and eat at restaurants have dogs licking the plates I will be eating from? Something is wrong with this idea. I use to patronize some of those restaurants. As mentioned in the other post that the dog beach swim was canceled it now seems fine to eat with the dogs but not swim with them.
It makes me laugh because my dog usually likes to take other people's food.
Children are welcome at restaurants. Usually, dogs are not. How is that? You can train a dog to behave in a restaurant, but a 2-year-old (especially one having a temper tantrum) is almost impossible to control. Score one for dogs.
Then again, no one will make their dogs wear diapers. And if a dog reaches over and takes food off a stranger's table, it's pretty upsetting -- more so than if an unruly 2-year-old does the same. Score two for kids.
Final score? Kids win. Restaurant owners are right to be uncomfortable about doggy dining areas.