Hello Not_an_island,
I have traveled to Europe and noticed many people dining in
restaurants and sidewalk cafes with their dogs, and as a dog lover, I
enjoyed seeing the well behaved and beautiful dogs. Anecdotally, it
appears to me that the large majority (if not all) dog owners in
Europe train and regularly groom their pets, and other patrons seem to
have no problem with pets around.
In the US, where it seems we may have more rules and regulations
than we need, pets are not welcome in eating establishments.
?Not everyone is laughing. It used to be the world was divided into
two groups: dog people and cat people. There was no common ground.
Like smokers and non-smokers. But now it seems the canine world is
dividing even further: dog lovers who want their pet to be part of
every party, and those who don't want them around at all.
Blame it on aging and fawning baby boomers filling their empty nests
with man's best friend. Or President Bush, who takes his Scottish
terrier, Barney, everywhere. Dogs have become the newest accessory.
You only have to look at the travel site DogFriendly.com to see that
your dog is now welcome far and wide.
But Marcus concedes that every now and then, she runs into those not
thrilled with this turn of events.
"There's someone in my building who's crabby," she says, "never happy
when he sees a gaggle of dogs at the front door."?
?Or would you go to a restaurant frequented by dogs? Although state
health laws prohibit dogs inside restaurants ? unlike France, where
dogs routinely dine out with their masters ? more and more people are
showing up with them to dine alfresco. (Owners of female dogs find
this easier, since they don't have to contend with a male marking his
territory.)?
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-03-25-dogs_x.htm
According to the North Carolina Department of Environment and natural
Resources, dogs may contaminate equipment, utensils, linens and single
service and single use items.
?(g) Except as specified below, live animals shall not be allowed in a
food preparation or storage area. Live animals shall be allowed in the
following situations if their presence will not result in the
contamination of equipment, utensils, linens, and unwrapped
single-service and single-use items:
(1) fish or crustacea in aquariums or display tanks;
(2) patrol dogs accompanying police or security officers in offices
and dining, sales, and storage
areas; and
(3) service animals accompanying persons with disabilities in areas
that are not used for food
preparation.?
http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/Rules/t15a-18a.26.pdf
From Oregon State University:
?Principles of Control of Disease Transmission through Food:
1. Persons ill with, or carriers of, contagious diseases must not handle food.
2. All food handlers must observe the rules of personal hygiene. They
must thoroughly wash their hands after a sneeze or cough and after
visiting the toilet.
3. The food supply should come from an uncontaminated source.
4. Rodents and insects must be strictly controlled in foodservice
establishments. NO pet visits.
5. Equipment and utensils used in food preparation and service must be
maintained in a sanitary condition at all times.
This does not begin to cover all different aspects and as we proceed
throughout your career, new knowledge and new information will become
available and you must be cognizant always of not only the regulations
requiring food safety and sanitation, as well as other OSHA or safety
sanitation handling practices, but you must be constantly alert to be
on the leading edge of knowledge and condition changes in food safety
and sanitation.?
http://food.oregonstate.edu/safety/sanitation.html
Besides sanitary concerns, other reasons pets are not welcome in restaurants are:
Allergies - many people are allergic to dog dander
Fleas and tics - not all pet owners are conscientious about grooming their pets
Feces/Urine - Both accidents and dingleberries
Bites, barking, aggressive behavior - The establishment may be held
liable should dogs get into a fight and/or bite another patron. We
live in a litigious society.
Children - many children are afraid of dogs.
Space - blocking wait staff and other patrons
Dog/pet hair - Pet hair on food is unappetizing for most people.
Diseases - Ringworm, hookworm, staph infections, mites, salmonella, etc.
Diseases transmitted by dogs:
Salmonella:
?Humans and domestic or wild animals: poultry/eggs, swine, cattle and
rodents, and pets such as turtles, chicks, dogs and cats.? ?Ingestion
of fecal material containing the bacteria via undercooked meats or
eggs, contaminated food or tableware, and untreated public water
supplies.?
Staph:
?Humans are the most common source, but cows, dogs and fowl also can
be a source. It is estimated that 40-50% of healthy adults carry
staph. bacteria in nasal passages, throat, hands and skin. These
bacteria also are found in infected cuts, boils, burns, abrasions and
pimples.?
If you read the entire article, ironically, you?ll see the majority of
food borne illnesses are transmitted by humans!
http://www.restaurant.org/foodsafety/how_to_pathogens.cfm
Here is a list of other diseases spread by dogs (and other animals)
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:BEGHO2sZkIgJ:www.cdc.gov/healthypets/browse_by_diseases.htm+dogs+spread+disease+%2B+food+preparation&hl=en
?Fleas, lice, ticks and harvest mites are common ectoparasites of
dogs. Appropriate treatment must be carried out if they are found on
any of the dogs. When treating these infestations it is important to
take account of the life cycle of the parasite in order to achieve
maximum control or even eradication. For instance, simply killing the
adult flea is unlikely to provide adequate control.
Several mange mites affect dogs, including Demodey folliculorum,
Sarcoptes scabiei and Cheyletiella, all of which attack the skin and
Otodectes, which is most common seen in the ears. Any of these
infestations can cause severe illness in puppies and older dogs.
Some of these parasites can cause disease in humans.
Ringworm can be passed to humans. Early diagnosis and thorough
treatment is essential if the disease is to be controlled.?
http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/main.asp?page=145
?Wash Your Hands
We constantly pick up germs from other people, animals and
contaminated surfaces, then infect ourselves by touching our eyes,
nose or mouth. Washing your hands gets rid of the germs before you
have a chance to spread them to yourself or others.
In addition to colds, more serious diseases like hepatitis A,
meningitis and infectious diarrhea can be prevented if people make a
habit of washing their hands. Washing your hands regularly can save
you a lot of money on medical bills.
You should wash your hands often; probably more than you do now. You
can't see germs and there's no way of telling if you're carrying them
around. It's especially important to wash your hands in the following
circumstances:
· Before, during, and after you prepare food
· Before you eat
· After you use the toilet
· After handling animals or animal waste
· When your hands are dirty
· More often when someone in your home is sick.
These tips are important no matter where you are - at home, at work or
in public places like restaurants or movies.?
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/977858513.html
?Keep dogs, cats, etc. out of the kitchen when preparing food and
always wash their bowls separately to yours.?
http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/publicprotection/diseases.html
?Animal to person. Your household pet might seem harmless, but pets
can carry many germs. Being bitten or scratched by an infected animal
can make you sick and, in extreme circumstances, could even cause
death. Handling animal waste can be hazardous, too.?
http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/ID/00004.html
?Take your pets to a veterinarian care for regularly scheduled care,
including shots and worm treatment. This reduces the chance that your
pet could get sick and pass an infection to you or your family. Since
veterinary care can be expensive, Humane Society or other animal
shelters sometimes provide information about low-cost clinics.
· Don't allow pets to eat raw food or drink out of the toilet.
· Clean litter boxes daily and put the dirty litter in a plastic bag.
To prevent infectious diseases that may cause birth defects, pregnant
women should not change cat litter boxes. A child's sandbox can become
a cat's litter box so cover it when not in use.
· Clean your pet's living area at least once a week. Bury feces or
collect it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash.
· Areas that have been contaminated with dog or cat feces should be
off-limits to children - not only at home but also in public areas
such as parks or playgrounds. Toddlers naturally explore their
environment, so teach them not to eat dirt.
· Wash your hands with soap and water after handling or cleaning up
after animals, especially reptiles. Teach your children to do the
same. This is also important after touching dirt because hookworms
from animal feces in the soil can enter through your skin.?
Notice that hookworms can be transmitted from dogs to humans.
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/977858513.html
When a fly lands on your food:
?First, because flies can?t eat solid food, they vomit on the food
to soften it.
Secondly, flies stamp the vomit into the food to make the whole
mixture runny. This makes the food easier for the fly to suck up. It
is not uncommon for the fly to drop some excrement into the food at
the same time.
Thirdly, now it is your turn to eat the food!!
So you see; fly control is important.?
Now, add to scenario, the fact that the fly had landed on a dog
dingleberry before landing on your food!
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/health.nsf/0/830AB9BA62461F5F85256B140065B5A0/$file/Front%20Burner_2004.pdf?openelement
Some Opinions:
==============
?Dogs are filthy and flea-infested. They shouldn't be allowed in
restaurants or store!" Service dogs need to be hale and hearty in
order to perform their duties. A shoddily groomed dog that is covered
with parasites will be neither comfortable nor healthy, and will find
it very difficult to concentrate on the task at hand. Service dogs
are, as a rule, bathed frequently and treated with flea and tick
repellants. Most training programs teach their human students proper
grooming techniques, including bathing, brushing, nail clipping, and
oral hygiene. Good grooming is one of the essentials of good health,
and most service dog handlers want their canine partners to be as
healthy and happy as possible.?
http://www.iaadp.org/contest2002a.html
A differing opinion:
?It's not unusual to find Wendy Diamond in a posh Manhattan
restaurant, offering forkfuls of prosciutto to Lucky, her small, white
Maltese dog. Diamond totes Lucky just about everywhere in one of her
30-odd "dog bags" ? medium-sized shoulder bags in a selection of
colors that match any outfit. If Lucky is discovered and Diamond is
told that dogs are not allowed, Diamond will not patronize that
restaurant again.
"Dogs should be allowed in restaurants," Diamond told the Forward over
lunch at the Bricco bistro in midtown Manhattan. "Dogs should be
allowed in taxis.... My dog is cleaner than most cats."
http://www.animalfair.com/press/forward.htm
Service Dogs:
=============
I gathered a lot of information on dogs in general being in restaurants, such as:
Service dogs must be maintained in excellent condition, including
behavior training, good grooming, and frequent health check-ups.
Having an occasional service dog (or other animal) is hardly a major
health concern. Perhaps if every dog were cared for and behaved like
service dogs, there would be no prohibitions against dogs in
restaurants.
1. Proof of current Inoculations, including Rabies, distemper,
hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvo virus.
2. Proof of Health, such as a current health certificate from a Veterinarian.
3. Visible cleanliness, no sign of fleas / ticks, clean ears etc.
4. Dog must appear healthy, alert and not grossly over or under weight.
5. Yearly physical and stool check.
6. Annual Heartworm Test
Many dog owners do not care for their dogs as well as service dogs must be.
http://www.doglogic.com/therapy.htm
?It is a small bakery with narrow aisles and the shopkeeper explains
to the owner of the service dog that if the dog comes into the shop,
he fears that the dog?s hair may shed on the uncovered baked goods.?
?The hearing impaired user accompanied by her hearing dog asks (by
handing the taxi driver a written question) the taxi driver whether it
is okay to get into the taxi cab.
The taxi driver acknowledges that he understands the requirements of
the Law and would like to help, but that he is allergic to dogs and is
therefore unable to help her.
The taxi driver offers to call another cab for the user who happily
accepts the offer.
This case study again illustrates that finding a workable solution is
possible even in seemingly "unavoidable circumstances".?
http://www.hojyoken.com/english/english_case.html
?You might give the unusual patron a wide berth, because you probably
didn't expect to encounter a pit bull in a restaurant.?
http://www.pitbullpress.com/ARTICLES/atyourservice.html
http://www.petsonthego.com/tracktrrestrnts.html
?A service dog should be on leash and under control at all times. A SD
should not be barking, begging for food, paying attention to anyone
except for the handler, or trying to intiate play with other dogs. A
service dog is not a pet that is allowed in public- he or she is a
working animal with a job to do that they must not be distracted
from.?
http://www.wildflowerassistancedogs.com/sd_etiq.html
? Think about how cramped planes, buses, trains, and subways are
without a dog. Now imagine squashing a Leonberger at your feet. Its
probably not something you want to do at all, much less on a regular
basis. Having a Leonberger Service Dog can make it difficult to go to
little hole in the wall restaurants, to go to small out of the way
bookstores, to go to bars and clubs, to go to antiques stores, or to
frequent some coffee shops. It is not acceptable to have your Service
Dog block an aisle or be in the way of a waiter or waitress, other
patrons, flight attendants, etc. Some places aren?t simply difficult
to navigate with a Service Leo, they are impossible to navigate. In
many stores Fergus cannot pull my wheelchair simply because there is
not room for him to be beside me.?
?Hair is an issue. Leos are hairy, fluffy, dogs. People knit sweaters
with yarn spun from their undercoats. Hair in the house is something
you will have to learn to live with. Hair in your yard. Hair in your
car. Hair on your clothes. Daily brushing of your Leo is a must. When
the wind blows, the hair tumbleweeds will blow through your house.
No amount of cleaning will keep your home hair free, and because of
this you will have to do some additional maintenance. For example, air
conditioner filters have to be cleaned much more frequently. Computers
get clogged with hair. Vacuum cleaners burn out. There will be dog
hair in your food.? ?It is NOT acceptable to leave hair all over out
in public.?
??it is not acceptable for a Service Dog to bark at dogs or people who
approach his partner (or to otherwise guard his partner) in public.?
http://www.fergus.fogg.net/leonberger_proscons.htm
Pest Control in restaurants may be another reason dogs are not
wanted. Not all owners are scrupulous about keeping their dogs free of
ticks and fleas. (I ate once at a restaurant, in North Carolina, that
had fleas, fleas that bit us! You could see them jumping on the
carpet.)
http://www.doglogic.com/therapy.htm
?A bill has been introduced in the Maryland Legislature to permit dogs
in Maryland restaurants ? at the restaurant owner's discretion ? but
there has been little support for the measure. Letters to the editor
of The Baltimore Sun are overwhelmingly against it.
Patti Moran, head of Pet Sitters International, the North
Carolina-based group that promotes Take Your Dog to Work Day,
appreciates everyone's concerns, but she also understands dog owners'
need to be with their dogs. She has five and takes them almost
everywhere.
"We tend to treat our pets as surrogate children, so it's only natural
you want to take them with you," she says.
Or as the Pet Sitters International Web site proclaims: "Some people
don't like children of the human variety either, but you wouldn't
leave them alone at home."
?Actually, more and more houses of worship are opening their doors to
pets, with monthly pet-welcome services popping up at churches around
the country. The reasoning: to get people back to church through their
dogs.
Is every churchgoer thrilled by this? No. That's why such services are
only once a month. Some parishioners have allergies.
And even the pro-take-your-dog-everywhere people understand that.?
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-03-25-dogs_x.htm
? Unlike many foreign countries, in the U.S. dogs are not allowed
inside of restaurants, so right off the bat the place needs to have
outdoor tables. That is the first thing we look for. From that point
we move to other issues such as accessibility. Is it easy to get in
and out of the patio with your human? Sometimes the tables are so
crammed in together that it just isn?t comfortable, which is another
good issue, comfort.
There is a whole range of surfaces you might find from dirt or gravel
to wood or chips to concrete or bricks. Unfortunately some humans
never think about the surface you may find yourself on. Now a brick
patio filled with plants that were just watered may not be a problem
for a person sitting on a chair but it can be damp and uncomfortable
for their best friend dining with them under the table. That is why my
humans carry a mat with us. It?s fleece on the top and some kind of
waterproof material on the bottom. It?s warm and dry, which is just
how I like to be when dining out. It?s always a good idea for your
humans to bring along your food and some water just in case the
restaurant doesn?t offer you any. After all what?s the good of sitting
down to eat as a family if you can?t eat too. Some of my favorite
dining out experiences were at restaurants that even have heaters
outside on the patio. They work surprisingly well, spaced around so
that everyone stays warm.?
http://www.calebboy.com/diningout.htm
Etiquette Tips for Dogs at Outdoor Restaurants
==============================================
?- Make sure your pooch is well-behaved around other people and
especially children.
- Leash your four-legged friend and keep him or her from socializing
with other diners or employees, unless welcomed.
- Try to keep your dog close to your table or chair so he or she is
not in the waiter's path. Dogs are not allowed on the chairs or
tables.
- Bring your own doggie bowl or ask the waiter for a paper or plastic
bowl or cup for water if necessary. Pets are not permitted to eat or
drink out of restaurant glasses or dishes, unless they are disposable.
- Remember to tie your dog to your chair and not a table. A dog tied
to a table can result in spilled drinks or food if he or she is strong
enough to make the table move.
- Always call ahead or ask first to make sure an establishment allow
dogs at their outdoor tables?
http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/rest/rest.shtml
http://www.dogfriendly.com/
http://www.tripswithpets.com/restaurants.asp
Many beaches don?t allow pets either!
http://www.lbi.net/qa/FAQ_Dogs.asp#What%20are%20the%20rules%20for%20dogs%20on%20the%20beach?
And now, for a bit of humor; Doggie waiters:
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Dog_20restaurant
?Dear God: Is it true that dogs are not allowed in restaurants because
we can't make up our minds what NOT to order? Or is it the carpet
thing, again??
http://radiofence.com/pet_humor.htm
Dogs in public places:
http://www.dogster.com/forums/index.php?t=80319&PHPSESSID=ff6950db388bb17f3ad8a6dbb2886960
I love your idea of having an establishment where people can bring
their dogs along while they dine! You will have to check the laws in
your state regarding dogs being allowed, although if food is not
prepared there, it seems you may be allowed.
There you go! I hope this has answered your question! If not, please
request an Answer Clarification, before rating. This will allow me to
assist you further on this question.
Sincerely, Crabcakes
Search Terms
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sanitation + dog + food safety
dangers dog + food safety ?hot
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