There’s been a recent crackdown in Denver on restaurants (including coffee shops) that allow dogs in their outdoor patio spaces, which in many cases are just tables and chairs on a sidewalk out front. I guess it’s a health code thing, but it’s not like the dogs are in the kitchen. Such bunk hasn’t made it’s way into my town yet, but I suspect it’s only time. And, that makes me crabby.
I love taking Lilly with me to lunch, or whatever. It’s something she’s very good at. She simply assumes a down-stay position and for the most part stays put. No muss, no fuss.
When an article in The Denver Post cited the crackdown, it spawned a bunch of online postings. Click here to read the article, take the poll, and read the ranting the ensued. It got nasty, as such discussions often do.
Three things struck me:
1. Since Colorado and Denver are often touted as “dog friendly,” I was suprised that the vote was nearly evenly split (at least when I checked late last week).
2. Insulting dogs by calling them “accessories” made me laugh. Lilly is NOT an accessory or a fashion statement or anything like that. If you think so, then you truly don’t get it, and nothing I say will change that.
3. The main thing made me smirk is the idea that dogs pose a health risk, including to people who are allergic. In other words, some government agency should protect people with such conditions from dogs in public settings.
Following that logic, then, some agency should outlaw grasses and trees from public settings since I’m horribly allergic to all kinds of pollen.
In my mind, banning dogs from patios is just as silly.
That’s what’s so nice about Europe. Everyone has their dogs with them at the pub or cafe. they’re even allowed on public transport. How cool would that be??