Fla. Bill Would Give Dogs a Place at Table

Friday, February 24, 2006

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."

http://home.peoplepc.com/psp/newsstory.asp?cat=news&referrer=welcome&id=20060224/43fe92d0_3ca6_15526200602241818176147

I'd also like to see a law allowing cats a place at restaurant tables, providing kitty is well-behaved :silly: BTA, if there were a law allowing cats to eat with their humans, it would be a crime to deny the cat the right to steal your food.

We have that here, and really, it's not all that pleasant. Especially if you're allergic to animal dander and you live in a place where big dogs are considered cool.

I want to be able to bring my cats with me, but no... its dogs, dogs, dogs. Specism, that's what it is.

(I am somewhat serious about this; I can't take my husband to several stores in Boulder proper because they allow dogs in, and he is very allergic to dander that he doesn't know well and is more allergic to dogs than to cats. It makes hardware shopping very difficult at times.)