Posted on 02/24/2006 2:12:05 PM PST by freepatriot32
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."
Dogs would only be allowed to dine at outside tables under the plan. No restaurant would be required to let the dogs in, and cities would not be required to offer the variance from the law that normally bars canines. The dogs also would have to be on leashes.
But some say giving Fido a seat at the table raises serious questions. The issue of dog bites may be a concern for individual restaurant owners, McInvale said. The bill would require restaurants to have $1 million worth of liability insurance to be eligible to be exempted from the law.
"Everybody's not a dog person, and some people are afraid of dogs," said Rep. Terry Fields, a Democrat.
Tiffany Hickem, who shuttles her 9-month-old shelty Delaney between her home in Delray Beach and Gainesville where Hickem is a student at the University of Florida, would love to take the puppy to restaurants.
It would mean fewer hours Delaney would have to hang out at home all alone.
"Anytime I can take her out and do something with her, even if it's while I'm doing something, it gives her a chance get a little more socialized," Hickem said.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is against the bill because different restaurants will have to follow different laws depending on what city they're in. The restaurant lobby probably won't howl too loudly about the proposal, though.
"Our membership is somewhat split on this," said the FRLA's general counsel, Richard Turner, who, for the record, has a puppy at home.
The bill has one more committee stop to make before it can go to the full House for a vote. A similar measure is awaiting Senate committee hearings. Some lawmakers still have questions _ albeit humorous ones.
"Does it mean if we pass this bill, it would eliminate doggy bags?" asked Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami.
Salty ain't flatulent, he's just well ventilated.
Bake the hall in the candle of your brain.
I can't believe you remember the words!
Rep. Sheri McInvale of Orlando, who left the Democratic Party this month (Jan. 2006).
Rep. Sheri McInvale, who became a Democrat four years before being elected to the House in 2002, is a Republican again.
rather eat with dogs than most humans I've met..It's outside , at the owners discretion..I dont see a problem at all.if you don't like dogs , eat somewhere else. The OWNER ( the guy who worked all his life to buy the place )should have a the liberty to let people sit with their pooches outside, or allow smoking if he ( THE OWNER) chooses.
They are cleaner tham most humans and act better in public as well...Go eat somewhere else then . Why shouldn't the owner have the right to allow dogs outside in HIS establishment. Who the hell is the state to tell him he can't if he wants to ?The state has too damn much to say if you ask me .
Dude, you have it all wrong. This doesn't force the notion of accepting dogs at restaurants.
No, this is Republicans doing what they do best, not changing the law that restricts private businesses from doing WTF they feel like with their own #@$!$%!@ property, but allowing miniscule exceptions to show how gracious our new aristocrats are. See, this Republican bill allows freedom in small pilot programs in limited areas, because we can't have all the propertied rabble all at once getting the ability to utilize their small plots as they see fit, now, can we? Far better to keep these upstarts who pretend to a better station on a short leash. (pun intended)
Is it really hard to rmemeber the lyrics? I always thought they were pretty simple.
Uncle,
You've shown great restraint.
Talk t'ya.
The world did not end.
And they leave their baby outside the door in the push carriage!
Bring your dog for lunch!
When I was in Greece there were large numbers of stray cats wandering in and out of the outdoor restaurants.
Yes, the lyrics are simple, Excursion Guy, I was making a joke. I hope you were also.
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