[perrjojo]

There are frequent doggie threads on TOTV. I must admit that I recently started one and there is another ongoing in the restaurant thread now.. I do not intend to be inflammatory nor do I intend to change anyone's mind. These are just honest thoughts that I have had while reading these threads.

First let me say that we have a very spoiled dog. I probably would not take him to a restaurant here but have sought out pet friendly restaurants when we travel. I have never seen more than one or two dogs in these restaurants at any given time. I have never seen a dog cause a problem at a restaurant. Not it saying it couldn't or hasn't happened...just saying that I have not seen it.

Now for my thoughts:
Our dog lives in our house. I imagine all dogs in TV live in the house with their owners. My dog loves to be near us at all times. If we watch Television he is nearby. If I go to the bathroom, he is there. If I go into the kitchen to prepare a meal he is there watching and waiting til I am finished. When we eat our meal he is close by waiting til we are finished. He is NOT allowed to sit at the table and beg. We have always entertained. When our guest arrive I have never had anyone say, oh, you have a dog here. I must leave. I have never had anyone ask, where was the dog when you prepared the meal? I have never had a guest sit down to dinner and notice the dog laying nearby and say., OMG...there is a dog here. I must leave because it is unsanitary. I have never had anyone refuse our hospitality because a dog lived in our home. So I guess what I am trying to say is, is the prescience of one or two dogs in an outdoor dining area really all that distressing? Any Restaurant that allows dogs on their patio area, whether in Florida or the many other states that allow the same, must abide by the state and local health rules. I guess I would like for you to just THINK ABOUT IT without prejudgment or emotion. Thanks for thinking about this with me. All opinions are welcome.

[tippyclubb]

Your post hit the nail on the head. Well said, and I agree.

[Cajulian]

Finally! Someone speaks words of wisdom.

[Barefoot]

Like!

[DonH57]

As a dog lover. I agree . Well said.

I have friends that are allergic and spend more then a couple minutes in my home.What if we were to go out to eat with them? Should they not have the option of sitting outside on a beautiful evening because that area is pet friendly? Just a little more food for thought!!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan

Should they not have the option of sitting outside on a beautiful evening because that area is pet friendly?

There are over 80 restaurants in The Villages, and only a handful have dog-friendly patios.

[redwitch]

If restaurants were to cater to every allergy and sensitivity, there would be few foods to eat -- peanut allergies, shellfish allergies, strawberries and so on and so forth. If restaurants were to ban people who cause allergies, I'd guess that 95% of Villagers would not be allowed to eat in restaurants since the vast majority are well-scented. And let's not forget the smell of tobacco on clothing.

I am very sensitive to scents. A strong perfume or aftershave can guarantee that I will have a migraine. A light scent is at the very least a mild headache. There are many of us with this sensitivity.

I love dogs. Give me a choice between eating on a patio with a dog or inside with the screaming toddler, the dog will win every time. Heck, the dog would probably win without the toddler (outdoors does dissipate scents to a degree). I don't see what the big brouhaha is about dogs on patios. Never have, never will.

I have never seen dog urinate while the owners ate. I have seen dogs jump up when someone comes over to pet them but never just randomly jump on someone walking by. I have never seen a dog be ill-mannered in a restaurant. They seem to know the rules far better than their human counterparts.

Quite simply, if you don't want to sit by a dog, don't. Ask to be moved. That's what I do when someone is seated by me wearing a very strong scent. If I can't be accommodated, I find a restaurant that will accommodate me. Surely those that don't want to eat near a dog can do the same.

[jrandall]

LIKE. Well said! Great point!

Originally Posted by jrandall

LIKE. Well said! Great point!

I have a dog & love her to death but would never think of bringing her to a restaurant!! Most the dogs you see in The Villages that are being treated like they'r human beings & not animals are little dogs. What if us big dog owners started bringing our dogs to these places? Could you imagine a great dane , a german shepherd , a rottweiler all outside a restaurant? No one but the owners & their dogs would be there! Please folks have some regard for the folks that don't like dogs or are allergic. Common sense says if you're going out to eat leave fido home!!

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

......Now for my thoughts:
Our dog lives in our house. I imagine all dogs in TV live in the house with their owners. My dog loves to be near us at all times. If we watch Television he is nearby. If I go to the bathroom, he is there. If I go into the kitchen to prepare a meal he is there watching and waiting til I am finished. When we eat our meal he is close by waiting til we are finished. He is NOT allowed to sit at the table and beg. We have always entertained. When our guest arrive I have never had anyone say, oh, you have a dog here. I must leave. I have never had anyone ask, where was the dog when you prepared the meal? I have never had a guest sit down to dinner and notice the dog laying nearby and say., OMG...there is a dog here. I must leave because it is unsanitary. I have never had anyone refuse our hospitality because a dog lived in our home. So I guess what I am trying to say is, is the prescience of one or two dogs in an outdoor dining area really all that distressing? Any Restaurant that allows dogs on their patio area, whether in Florida or the many other states that allow the same, must abide by the state and local health rules. I guess I would like for you to just THINK ABOUT IT without prejudgment or emotion. Thanks for thinking about this with me. All opinions are welcome.

I like seeing dogs at the squares and in public, but we don't know them as you know your dog(s) in your own house, and your guests know or get to know your dog(s) when they come to dine. Out in public, and in restaurant patios where there's lots of foot traffic in tight walkways, having various dogs of unknown training, background and varying levels of responsible ownership makes it a whole different ballgame than when they're in their/your own home.

I've seen some edgy situations at Lake Sumter Landing when a couple of dogs who don't know each other start growling and yelping in a crowd of people, and it's looked like a dogfight coming. Sometimes owners are not able to hold their frothing dog back, and because they don't have control they laugh it off (but it's not funny at all).

I also saw and posted last year that I saw a large dog on the sidewalk suddenly lunge under the rail of Johnny Rockets patio and under the table where a couple had their two small dogs sitting there and were bothering nobody. The big frothing dog was absolutely vicious, and the owners acted like this was no big deal, but it was. They had a hard time dragging the beast out of there on the leash. The dogs and people with their legs under the table could have been severely injured.

The problem is unpredictability of dogs having varying owners/training when mixing them into crowds or busy restaurant patio walkways. A well-trained dog can react suddenly and badly to certain dogs and not others, and strangers want to pet them but often strangers have no idea how to approach a dog they don't know. They have no idea about holding out a hand slowly for the dog to sniff and check out before accepting a hug or petting, etc.

This is an incident that illustrates a sudden attack on a waitress who put a dish of water down for a dog in the restaurant and the mauling to her face required 300 stitches (and I'd think she has PTSD for which her lawyers will also be suing):

Dog-mauling in Miami Beach sparks debate, caution | www.palmbeachpost.com

[Beechie]

Great post ilovetv. I think perhaps you may have the most compelling argument to the pets-on-the-patio debate. Although dog bites would be somewhat rare, no one can deny the unpredictability of certain breeds. Although toddlers can be annoying at times, I can't remember the last time a toddler ripped the face off a waitress.

It will be interesting to see how the litigation goes. If the restaurant owner is found to be culpable in any way shape or form, will future pet friendly restaurant owners require an insurance rider to cover these potential lawsuits? If so, at what cost?

For the record, my wife sees the pet on the patio as a good thing but is also cognizant of the drawbacks. We do own a dog and we are trying to understand what might be best for all.

I did come across a California Restaurant's Pet Patio Rules and Regulations that I thought was pretty clear about the do's and don'ts. This would alleviate some of the previous posters concerns. However, whom among us can predict a dogs response?

The debate continues...perhaps some pet friendly restaurants with clear rules and regulations and lots of insurance.

[Parker]

Sometimes the PERSON sitting next to you in a restaurant goes off and hurts or kills someone there. Most don't. Just like most dogs don't.

A vicious/unreliable dog is the responsibility of the owner, and that owner should be held completely accountable, whether sitting at a restaurant or out for a walk. If those owners are willing to take the risk, so am I. It is wonderful to share a restaurant patio with gentle friendly dogs.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I like seeing dogs at the squares and in public, but we don't know them as you know your dog(s) in your own house, and your guests know or get to know your dog(s) when they come to dine. Out in public, and in restaurant patios where there's lots of foot traffic in tight walkways, having various dogs of unknown training, background and varying levels of responsible ownership makes it a whole different ballgame than when they're in their/your own home.

I've seen some edgy situations at Lake Sumter Landing when a couple of dogs who don't know each other start growling and yelping in a crowd of people, and it's looked like a dogfight coming. Sometimes owners are not able to hold their frothing dog back, and because they don't have control they laugh it off (but it's not funny at all).

I also saw and posted last year that I saw a large dog on the sidewalk suddenly lunge under the rail of Johnny Rockets patio and under the table where a couple had their two small dogs sitting there and were bothering nobody. The big frothing dog was absolutely vicious, and the owners acted like this was no big deal, but it was. They had a hard time dragging the beast out of there on the leash. The dogs and people with their legs under the table could have been severely injured.

The problem is unpredictability of dogs having varying owners/training when mixing them into crowds or busy restaurant patio walkways. A well-trained dog can react suddenly and badly to certain dogs and not others, and strangers want to pet them but often strangers have no idea how to approach a dog they don't know. They have no idea about holding out a hand slowly for the dog to sniff and check out before accepting a hug or petting, etc.

This is an incident that illustrates a sudden attack on a waitress who put a dish of water down for a dog in the restaurant and the mauling to her face required 300 stitches (and I'd think she has PTSD for which her lawyers will also be suing):

Dog-mauling in Miami Beach sparks debate, caution | www.palmbeachpost.com

Oh, for Pete's sake. This is inflammatory. For one thing, dogs do not froth unless they're rabid. You're exaggerating. For another, you can come up with anecdotes to prove any point, whether it be dogs or humans. That waitress/water incident has been around the block many times. These incidents are not the norm.

[perrjojo]

So here is what I have learned. Those of us who love our dogs will continue to want our pets with us. Those who don't care for the dogs will continue to object. Viva la difference!