But (I’ll say it again) science is science, and love them as we might, even outdoors there’s still a small but inescapable risk of disease transmission. So, what to do? We love our puppydogs, and it’s certainly fun to take them with us when we go out for an al fresco treat. So when the food safety inspectors recently revisited the laws regarding Fido, Maggie or Fuzzy’s presence on the patio or deck, there was considerable pushback. But science is science, and emotions are emotions. Unless there is tableside food preparation, or a cooking/bar area where food is routinely handled, the general feeling was that dogs - well-behaved dogs, that is - could be present with reduced risk of cross-contamination. Trained or not, dogs are still dogs, and there’s always potential for unpredictable behavior in the presence of other dogs.īe that as it may, the Delaware Health and Social Services’ Office of Food Protection’s informally relaxed attitude regarding outdoor dining areas suggests that things might be a bit different out on a patio or deck. This point was brought home to me during a recent radio broadcast when a local friend who is totally blind called in to express concern that a dining area teeming with animals could create distractions for her guide dog that could be dangerous to her safety. But what about the dogs we don’t know? There’s no guarantee that everyone exercises the care needed to ensure that their dogs are people- and animal-friendly. So the prospect of sharing an outdoor dining area with my neighbors’ canines doesn’t immediately bring to mind thoughts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or an unexpected leap onto the table. They maintain their health and make sure their pets are socialized so as to be calm around strangers - be they human or canid. This risk is substantially increased in an enclosed space.Īll the people I know take good care of their dogs. Viruses such as rabies and norovirus, along with bacterial contagions including salmonella, brucella, campylobacter, leptospira, staphylococcus and even antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus … just to name a few … are common infections that can be easily transmitted to humans by dogs. As much as we love ‘em, it’s a fact that dogs can transmit certain viral and bacterial diseases to humans through infected saliva, aerosols (coughing/sneezing), contaminated excrement and/or direct contact. Those laws are hard and fast, and with good reason. There’s no question that dogs should not be a part of indoor restaurant dining - other than the single and necessary exception of trained and licensed service dogs such as seeing-eye dogs. So when science, food safety and liability clash with the strong feelings we have for our pets, there’s bound to be some fireworks. As a dog lover myself, I know firsthand how affection for one’s canine companion can come close to that felt for a child. No wonder the current controversy over dogs in outdoor dining areas is so emotionally charged. Restaurant and food writers agree that one’s perception of a restaurant can be subconsciously skewed one way or another by that person’s comfort level, attitude or temperament at the moment. My email box is daily proof of that: I regularly receive commentary from people complimenting - or complaining about - everything from sloppily presented plates to dirty floors to an overly perfumed server.Ī person’s mood can also affect the dining experience. The appearance of the food and the immediate surroundings the attitude of a server the noise level and pleasant (or unpleasant) odors can all influence taste and overall satisfaction. The business of eating – or in this case, dining - is more than just parking yourself in front of a plate and consuming stuff.
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