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Restaurants Say Allowing Dogs On Patios Helps Their Bottom Line

Land Grant Brewing Company used to allow dogs on patios until they received a letter from the Columbus Health Department, telling them to stop.
Dan Konik
Land Grant Brewing Company used to allow dogs on patios until they received a letter from the Columbus Health Department, telling them to stop.

Two bills that would permit dogs on restaurant patios statewide are being introduced in the House and Senate. The bill is as much about business as it is about dogs.

Earlier this year, a few health departments sent letters to business telling them it’s illegal to allow dogs on their patios. Many restaurants who were doing that were upset. Natalie Walston with the Ohio Restaurant Association says some businesses think it’s a good way to compete with delivery services.

“It’s so easy to order your favorite food from delivery so you are competing with that. You want to get people in the door so if you can do that by allowing people to bring their pets then more power to you.”

The new bills will leave it up to businesses to determine whether to allow dogs on patios. The legislation will not allow dogs inside the restaurants.

Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.