A Tribune was accidentally delivered Tuesday along with my Sun-Times. Since there was no point in giving it back, I took a peek at what the competition is up to.
Most of the front page was dedicated to the proposed City Council ordinance to permit dogs in restaurants. The headline, "Dogs in restaurants?" betrayed the Trib's notorious bland literality, while the Sun-Times mustered our usual flip wordplay,"DOG DAYS OF BUSINESS?"
The Tribune's Jake Sheridan kept up a tone of solemnity throughout, indulging in a bit of levity only toward the end, noting, "Sorry, cat, turtle, bird and koala owners, the measure would only apply to pooches." (Certainly capable of my own grim literalness, I couldn't help but note it would be illegal to bring a koala into a restaurant no matter what the City Council does, as koalas are protected animals, illegal to privately own in this country.)
My colleague, the indispensable Fran Spielman, punned right off the bat, "A City Council member from Lincoln Park wants to throw a financial bone to Chicago restaurants fighting for survival ..."
But neither the Tribune nor the Sun-Times delved much into the key question: How's this going to work? Sure, leashes will be required, but a dog on a leash can still maul another dog. Will hot dog stands echo with the barking of hot dogs? Or will a sweetly slumbering Muffin become a welcome feature at every corner bakery?
We don't have to guess, as I like to say: We can just find out. Plenty of Chicago watering holes advertise themselves as dog-friendly, and I set out to take their temperature. How much is that doggie in the window affecting business?
"We love having dogs on the patio," said a bartender at the Harding Tavern, 2732 N. Milwaukee, which announces "Our Patio is Dog Friendly" on its website.
"It's nice for the neighbors to be able to come in," continued the bartender, who did not want to give her name. "We've never had issues with any dogs."
Chicago's most canine-welcoming bar might be Cody's Public House at 1658 W. Barry. Named for the original owner's dog — a bloodhound — the West Lake View neighborhood tavern keeps a glass jar of dog treats on the bar and prides itself on its dog-friendliness.
I rarely eat at restaurants but have encountered dogs numerous times.
ReplyDeleteService animals. Well behaved I didn't even know they were there
Accidents? Some dogs will pee anywhere new that they go I can't imagine that happening at the table next to mine what does the staff do? Toxic spill table 12 come out with the disinfectant and spray that stuff around while you're eating?
I have a chow she's a nasty little b**** and will bite you but my wife thinks that she's a real sweetheart never having been bit by the dog that protects her with extreme loyalty she wants to bring the dog everywhere we go.
I suggested she be muzzled but my wife was having none of it I guess now we'll have to try to put a diaper on her too.
When I lived in Germany I saw dogs in restaurants with great regularity. They sat at the owners feet, and seemed to always be well behaved. Giving the German compulsion for order, my hunch is that an ill mannered dog would quickly be sent packing along with its owner. In America, where empathy is now viewed as a deep state plot, I can see dog owners insisting it is a constitutional right for their dog to chew on another patron's leg.
ReplyDeleteNice simile: Empathy as a deep state plot. Shame would then be something like liberal opium.
DeleteTwo years ago, we met our niece at Lazy Dog in Naperville. It was a nice night so we sat on the patio. A couple came in with two dogs and sat adjacent to us. Within a few minutes one of the dogs threw up. The couple did nothing ... to notify a server or to clean up. The mess was eventually taken care of (by the restaurant staff I might add) , but not before my food was served and left mostly uneaten.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bar so I wasn't that upset, but going to Alinea and sitting next to a dog would.
A well-run restaurant can handle dogs. Other places, maybe not so much. But I wouldn't avoid a restaurant because they allowed dogs. Like anything else, you give them a chance. If it doesn't work out, you don't go back.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of having dog hair fly through the air and into food when a dog is pet or shakes.
ReplyDeleteI don't think dogs would be a problem in restaurants. I think its the dog's owners who are the problem.
ReplyDeleteSis loved dogs, was turned down for a job training seeing-eye dogs because she was deemed too young. My father grew up with and loved dogs, so we had them. My mother only grew up with birds, and bitched constantly about the dog hair in our kitchen.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, i could take them or leave them. Prefer smaller and medium-sized pooches, ever since a big one came close to taking off half my hand while we were watching hockey. I was very lucky. Which was also our best dog's name when I was growing up.
Dogs in restaurants don't bother me. A popular lakeside restaurant here has a huge patio and outdoor space, and has live bands every day, all summer long. They cater to dogs. But if it's a hot day, 90 or over, they are not allowed on the grounds. You can tell that the owners are dog people who care.
Been to a couple of places...bars and eateries...that have had resident kitties moseying around. As a forty-year kitty guy, I like that better. Even if they eat off your plate. Which they probably would never do. Business cats are all business, and are better behaved than that.
I love dogs. Many people do not. Too many people think that their "friendly" dog can do no wrong, and give no consideration at all to the people who have had bad experiences with dogs. And I don't care how friendly he is, I don't want him pawing at my leg.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was recently accosted at a public park while jogging, jumped up on by an off-leash, "friendly" dog and inadvertently bruised and scratched in a way that drew blood. The nice lady dog owner was so surprised, of course!
This park has a number of signs notifying folks that dogs must be leashed, and they're supposedly not allowed on the playing field or jogging path, at any rate. Meanwhile, there is a dedicated dog park 3/4 mile away.
Dogs indoors at restaurants where food is being served? I'm a big thumbs-down on that idea. One story like Athene's at 8:25 above is all I need to hear.
Dogs are in restaurants all over Europe-no big deal. Especially when eating outside. I will be surprised if it passes or becomes popular.
ReplyDeleteI see the big issue with any furry animals mixing with the public is allergies. And serious ones where the person eating their meal, whether inside or outside, has a severe reaction when Fido or Kitty shows up. My husband is one of those who has trouble breathing whenever we walk into a house with furry pets. For us, pet owners need to think of others beyond themselves.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this a health code violation?
ReplyDeleteHow about two separate rooms? One pet friendly and the second pet free.
ReplyDeleteIs it me, or is “pawrents” a bridge too far? And don’t get me started on “fur babies.”
ReplyDeleteAy-freakin'-men
I love dogs, but they don't belong everywhere. You could sell me on casual restaurants where everybody knows what they're getting into, but there need to be rules
a couple weeks ago a couple had their fifty pound dog on an extendable leash in a grocery store, and they were letting it draw it out all the way, in the produce section. My old lab would've jumped up and helped himself to some snacks. He loved apples, tomatoes, carrots... Of course, I never would have brought him into the freakin' grocery store