Diners love to sit outside with their dogs on the patio of The Bearded Pig, a restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida. But late last year, the restaurant’s owners found out that only service dogs trained to help people were allowed at their restaurant. Although many cities allow dogs in outdoor dining areas, Jacksonville wasn’t one of them. Chad Munsey, The Bearded Pig’s co-owner, wasn’t ready to ban four-legged guests.
“Dogs are part of people’s families,” he says. “They want to take them to lunch and dinner, and we’ve always encouraged that.”
Munsey and his co-owner persuaded local leaders to change the rules. Since January, Jacksonville restaurants have been able to apply to have dog-friendly patios.
Many people are thrilled that they don’t have to leave their pets at home when they dine out. As long as the dogs are well-behaved and clean, they say, there shouldn’t be a problem.
But other people argue that a restaurant is no place for pooches. They worry about having a night out ruined by dogs barking, jumping on them, or pooping or peeing on the floor.