[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Roaddog53

I have not seen any in a restaurant until recently. We also didn't know they are allowed on a restaurant patio. We were at Crispers this past week and a couple came in with a pug and a bowl of water for him. They sat by our table with the dog and the man than lit up a cigarette and started smoking. We were almost done and since it was strong and my wife is allergic to smoke, we got up and left. The couple near them turned and moved further away with their lunch. I asked on our way out and the server said dogs are allowed on the patio and so is smoking. Guess we don't eat outside at Crispers now.

I have no problem eating next to the dog but the smoker....No way!

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by CFrance

True. Plus, you can go online and buy a service dog coat, photo i.d. and service badge without providing any proof of disability or dog training. I checked this out because we took our dog overseas and, having no car, wanted to be able to take him on the metro. I chickened out (not much of a rule breaker). We walked him everywhere instead.

This made me laugh because I too bought the vest and ID for my dog but never used it. I just couldn't bring myself to be comfortable with that "lie".

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Cobh521

I do not dislike dogs. In fact I had a dog for the past 18 years that recently passed. I was in City Fire in Brownwood and three women had three very very large dogs with them. They insisted that they needed to eat inside. The waiter could not get near the table since the dogs were sitting there. These dogs had comfort tags on them but I do not believe this is the same as a service dog. While these women were waiting for a seat they had the whole entrance blocked by the dogs. I do not feel that these large dogs, who could eat off the tables standing ip, should be in a dining establishment. I am also allergic to these breeds. (I had a toy poodle). I would like some opinions on this matter as I felt if I complained I would be causing a ruckus of ADA

I've deleted my original comments placed here because they were redundant, but I retained the following link as it supports that the women and their dogs were not protected by the ADA.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Therapy Dogs & Rights : Service Dogs of Florida, Inc.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

This made me laugh because I too bought the vest and ID for my dog but never used it. I just couldn't bring myself to be comfortable with that "lie".

I totally understand!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Funny that this post came up tonight. We just had dinner at Fiesta Grande at Colony and we sat next to a lab with a service vest. The handlers had no visible disability but that doesn't mean they did not have one. Another poster mentioned that you may NOT ask questions to the nature of a service dog and that is correct. I also know that anyone may buy a service vest for their dog. The dog at our restaurant was well behaved and unobtrusive.

They might have been the dog's trainers. Somebody takes the puppy for a year or so, providing basic training and experience in public, after which if they pass certain tests, they go on to a trainer for further specific training in their service area.

[angiefox10]

I don't know about the dogs you saw in City Fire. What I do know is there is a family/couple in the area who work with "service dogs" to train them so the dogs can be placed with a person who needs them. The couple are not handicapped but it's important the dogs learn to be in all public places. I would think the first time they take the dogs out they may not be very well behaved as they wouldn't know what they are supposed to do. I have seen them with as many as three dogs at a time and different dogs over the past year. The dogs also seem to be at different levels of competency. I'm not suggesting that's who you saw, just that I have seen these people and their dogs in the area many times in the past.

These dogs always have a vest on them stating they are in training.

[Bonny]

Two years ago hubby & I were flying out of Tampa. We spent the night before & went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.
There was a man at the bar with a small dog on his lap. I said to the waitress that I didn't know dogs were allowed inside a restaurant. She said the man comes in quite often and that is his therapy dog.

[Bogie Shooter]

I see therapy dogs riding around in cute little strollers all the time!

[gerryann]

I love dogs. I totally understand and respect the laws regarding service, therapy, comfort dogs, etc....but to bring three large dogs, at the same time into a restaurant on a busy day, makes no sense to me. What purpose would this serve in the training of a therapy dog? Three dogs? Together?

[DougB]

Just need to know if the dogs pooped and if the owner picked it up. Also, any sharing of deserts with these 3 dogs?

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I see therapy dogs riding around in cute little strollers all the time!

Certainly possible, if the dog is elderly. Being old doesn't mean they have outlived their responsibility to help their master.

[ilovetv]

I love dogs and I like seeing service dogs helping people. But THREE big dogs, big enough for faces to be table height, is excessive in a restaurant as crowded as CityFire can be at either location.

I'm getting tired of people taking the attitude that rules should not apply to them, or rules are some relic of the past made by old sourpusses.

There are good reasons for having rules like no animals permitted (except for a service one) in a dining establishment.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by DougB

Just need to know if the dogs pooped and if the owner picked it up. Also, any sharing of deserts with these 3 dogs?

Now Doug...

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by Roaddog53

I have not seen any in a restaurant until recently. We also didn't know they are allowed on a restaurant patio. We were at Crispers this past week and a couple came in with a pug and a bowl of water for him. They sat by our table with the dog and the man than lit up a cigarette and started smoking. We were almost done and since it was strong and my wife is allergic to smoke, we got up and left. The couple near them turned and moved further away with their lunch. I asked on our way out and the server said dogs are allowed on the patio and so is smoking. Guess we don't eat outside at Crispers now.

Any restaurant that allows dogs, other than true service dogs, in the outside seating area is required to have a local permit and also comply with the minimum requirements outlined on this link or they are in violation of Florida State Laws.

Letting dogs in outside areas requires more than just permission, including posting signs, having hand sanitizer on each table, having a cleaning kit available in the outside area, and the server must remind customers to follow certain procedures such as washing their hands before eating.

These rules are Florida State Law.

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr...-faq-dogs.html

One item from the link above.

9. Q. What are the minimum health or food safety conditions that must be met to allow pet dogs?

A. Any local ordinances allowing dogs must include the following minimum requirements:
All food service employees must wash their hands promptly after touching, petting, or otherwise handling dogs.
Employees cannot touch, pet, or otherwise handle dogs while serving food or beverages or handling tableware or before entering other parts of the establishment.
Patrons must be advised to wash their hands before eating. The establishment must provide waterless hand sanitizer at each table.
Dogs shall not come into contact with serving dishes, utensils, tableware, linens, paper products or any other items involved in food service operations.
Dogs shall be kept on a leash at all times and under reasonable control.
Dogs shall not be allowed on chairs, tables, or other furnishings.
Table and chair surfaces and any spillage shall be cleaned and sanitized between seating of patrons.
Accidents involving dog waste shall be cleaned immediately and the area sanitized with an approved product. Establishments are required to keep a kit containing cleaning materials in the designated outdoor area.
Signage reminding employees and patrons of adopted rules must be posted as required by local ordinance.
Dogs are not permitted to travel through any indoor or non-designated outdoor portions of the establishment. Ingress and egress to the designated, permitted, area cannot require entrance into or passage through any indoor area of the establishment.
Local governments may adopt additional requirements that must be met to obtain a permit.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by CFrance

They might have been the dog's trainers. Somebody takes the puppy for a year or so, providing basic training and experience in public, after which if they pass certain tests, they go on to a trainer for further specific training in their service area.

That was my first thought, last summer I met some Goldens that were being trained for The Guide Dog Foundation. At the time they told me there something like a dozen being fostered here in TV.