SANIBEL, Fla. -- Sanibel City Council is proposing to loosen the leash on its dog ordinance. The new proposed ordinance would allow dogs to be outside at restaurants, grocery stores, or similar establishments patios.
“I just think it’d be a really bonus to allow people to dine with there pets,” said Liza Clouse, Owner, Over Easy Cafe.
Liza Clouse is the owner of Over Easy Cafe and she has three dogs of her own, “and I enjoy time with them, it’s part of the fun, is to go places with them,” said Clouse. Clouse says a lot of her customers are dog owners and would love to have their pets out on the cafe’s patio.
As it’s currently written in the Sanibel Code, Chapter 10, Section 10-66, "Dogs are not permitted in any public market, grocery store, delicatessen, restaurant, or like establishments that deal in food products. "
So any place there’s food you can’t take your dog inside or outside, unless it’s a service animal.
The new ordinance would allow people to bring their pets outside only, but it’ll be up to the establishment to fill out an application for it.
“Being a lover of Sanibel, is being a lover of dogs, that’s just what I see, and I get calls everyday, can we bring dogs to the outside counter,” said Bridgit Stone-Budd, Owner, The Pecking Order.
Although Stone-Budd is for this proposal, “our landlord does not allow animals on the property period,” said Stone-Budd.
And that is where this ordinance could get tricky. Sanibel City Councilwoman Holly Smith says it would be up to the owner of the business to verify through their lease what is allowed or not.
Other rules within this ordinance would be employees must wash their hands after having contact with a dog, they are not allowed to be on any furniture, and must be on a leash.
“Of course we’d ask for well behaved canines,” said Clouse.
The first reading of this proposed ordinance was at Tuesday's city council meeting by Councilwoman Holly Smith. The publication of the ordinance will be on Tuesday, March 22nd. A second reading will be held Tuesday, April 2nd.
