NSW Dogs in Cafes & Pubs

[Caesar]

This has been a matter of some contention in NSW recently.

Various ‘dog friendly’ cafes and pubs around the state have popped up over the years, allowing dogs inside their premises. Unfortunately this technically contravenes the Food Act, which only permits dogs in outdoor areas.

Councils have been cracking down and it has made a lot of people very unhappy. The Greens have introduced a private members’ bill to amend the Food Act, to allow dogs inside under much the same conditions as they are currently permitted outside (on leash, water only, min. 10m from food prep areas).

How do you feel about dogs being allowed inside premises that serve food and drinks?

 

[Chief]

This has been a matter of some contention in NSW recently.

Various ‘dog friendly’ cafes and pubs around the state have popped up over the years, allowing dogs inside their premises. Unfortunately this technically contravenes the Food Act, which only permits dogs in outdoor areas.

Councils have been cracking down and it has made a lot of people very unhappy. The Greens have introduced a private members’ bill to amend the Food Act, to allow dogs inside under much the same conditions as they are currently permitted outside (on leash, water only, min. 10m from food prep areas).

How do you feel about dogs being allowed inside premises that serve food and drinks?

Add "owner reserves the right to refuse". Some dog parks around Brisbane are almost fighting pits when Shazza and Wazza bring their mad af Staffy down for a run.

 

[Kurve]

This has been a matter of some contention in NSW recently.

Various ‘dog friendly’ cafes and pubs around the state have popped up over the years, allowing dogs inside their premises. Unfortunately this technically contravenes the Food Act, which only permits dogs in outdoor areas.

Councils have been cracking down and it has made a lot of people very unhappy. The Greens have introduced a private members’ bill to amend the Food Act, to allow dogs inside under much the same conditions as they are currently permitted outside (on leash, water only, min. 10m from food prep areas).

How do you feel about dogs being allowed inside cafes pubs and restaurants?

If the proprietor of the business thinks it's okay, then I think it's a great idea.

 

[Kurve]

Add "owner reserves the right to refuse". Some dog parks around Brisbane are almost fighting pits when Shazza and Wazza bring their mad af Staffy down for a run.

Yep, I can't take one of my dogs out anywhere around people the overprotective upstart won't wear a muzzle. He's okay around dogs it's just other people he hates.

 

[Chief]

Yep, I can't take one of my dogs out anywhere around people the overprotective upstart won't wear a muzzle. He's okay around dogs it's just other people he hates.

Sorry, should have said "Shezza and Wazza"

 

[Caesar]

Poll amended.

This is a bit frustrating because a very popular cafe near me (in an old light industrial shed) has been operating as a dog cafe for years. It’s a really popular and practical place to take dogs for an outing during inclement weather. They had a visit from the council last week and were given a formal warning. They will likely go broke now - the dog-friendly aspect was their whole thing.

I appreciate they shouldn’t have been breaking the rules, but the community has lost a big asset. Half the reason there are so many badly-socialised dogs around is that options for socialising them are so limited.

 

[Chief]

Poll amended.

This is a bit frustrating because a very popular cafe near me (in an old light industrial shed) has been operating as a dog cafe for years. It’s a really popular and practical place to take dogs for an outing during inclement weather. They had a visit from the council last week and were given a formal warning. They will likely go broke now - the dog-friendly aspect was their whole thing.

I appreciate they shouldn’t have been breaking the rules, but the community has lost a big asset. Half the reason there are so many badly-socialised dogs around is that options for socialising them are so limited.

What are the rules at the moment?

 

[Balls In]

Its all fine until Bazza and Shazza rock up with their unharnessed pitbull

 

[Kurve]

This is a bit frustrating because a very popular cafe near me (in an old light industrial shed) has been operating as a dog cafe for years. It’s a really popular place to take dogs for an outing during inclement weather. They had a visit from the council last week and were given a formal warning. They will go broke now - the dog-friendly aspect was their biggest selling point.

That's harsh if they've been operating and marketing their business as a dog cafe. As long as dogs aren't romping around the food prep areas and they're well behaved I don't think it should be a problem.

Half the reason there are so many badly-socialised dogs around is that options for socialising them are so limited.

I have to stick up for my badly behaved anti social dog, he was adopted at 2 years old and guard trained too early. If they couldn't find a home for him they were going to have to put him down so I said I'd take him. He's really lovely aside from that I can't go anywhere with him without a good plan.

 

[Caesar]

What are the rules at the moment?

Dogs indoors in pubs

www.jamieparker.org

Dogs allowed in outside areas of establishments serving food as long as:

• the dog is on a leash and under effective control
• the dog remains on the ground
• the owner doesn’t feed the dog or permit it to be fed

 

[Caesar]

Its all fine until Bazza and Shazza rock up with their unharnessed pitbull

Dangerous dogs are covered by completely separate legislation.

 

[Chief]

Dogs indoors in pubs

www.jamieparker.org

Dogs allowed in outside areas of establishments serving food as long as:

• the dog is on a leash and under effective control
• the dog remains on the ground
• the owner doesn’t feed the dog or permit it to be fed

So I wonder if the can define "outside area" or if it is defined by the council?

Put up an internal wall with a door between the serving area and the rest of the cafe

 

[Caesar]

So I wonder if the can define "outside area" or if it is defined by the council?

Put up an internal wall with a door between the serving area and the rest of the cafe

Unfortunately the act defines an outside area - it must not be enclosed, and must be accessible without passing through an enclosed area.

 

[Chief]

Unfortunately the act defines an outside area - it must not be enclosed, and must be accessible without passing through an enclosed area.

What do they define as enclosed? Roof and four walls? Three walls?

 

[Chief]

Qld code, seems pretty broad:

Outdoor dining areas
Outdoor dining areas must:

• be used for drinking or dining, or both drinking and dining
• be accessible by the public without passing through an enclosed area.
• not be used for the preparation of food
• not be an enclosed area (an outdoor area with a roof and plastic sheeting which can be rolled down is considered to be an enclosed area under the Code).

Examples of outdoor dining areas include:

• open footpath dining with no cover
• a footpath dining area with a canopy but no walls
• an open beer garden with direct street access.

 

[Reynolds Number]

There's one at the cafe I'm in now. It appears to be very well behaved and it's humane leash is attached to the table. Let the business owners decide IMO.

One of the convenience stores I regularly go to has a dog behind the counter and always greets customers with a bark.

 

[Scotland]

Food prep areas no dogs/cats, elsewhere should be business owner discretion. Needs to be within reason though. A small cafe with half a dozen tables probably has some council permit to have a maximum of 20 persons inside the premises at any one time or something like that. Shouldn't be allowed to have 47 cats because pets are OK.

 

[HardcoreGeelongFan]

Absolutely no way and they shouldn't be allowed in bunnings either. Some shops maybe but not all.

 

[The Prosecutor]

When I worked behind the bar in London, every pub allowed this. Personally, I loved it, so long as the owners are responsible.

 

[Kram]

It always amazes me how much special treatment people's mutts get in society compared to other animals/pets.

 

[Kurve]

It always amazes me how much special treatment people's mutts get in society compared to other animals/pets.

With special, kind treatment as one of the family come huge rewards. Dogs aren't like most other animals/pets.

 

[Kram]

With special, kind treatment as one of the family come huge rewards. Dogs aren't like most other animals/pets.

So are countless other pets. Whilst I don't have one I really like dogs, but they aren't really much different or 'special'.

 

[Kurve]

So are countless other pets. Whilst I don't have one I really like dogs, but they aren't really much different or 'special'.

I suspect if you raised a dog as your bestie and had one over it's lifetime, you would know they were. Watch some working dog videos on youtube, search and rescue, schutzhund, sheep dog trials even ratting. They're not called man's best friend for nothing.

ps. The ratting videos are pretty disgusting but they work well.

 

[Kram]

I suspect if you raised a dog as your bestie and had one over it's lifetime, you would know they were. Watch some working dog videos on youtube, search and rescue, schutzhund, sheep dog trials even ratting. They're not called man's best friend for nothing.

ps. The ratting videos are pretty disgusting but they work well.

My old flatmate for many years used to have this massive pitbull/staffy cross type thing, one of my all time favourite animals, super friendly and intelligent. Funny though how many people would pass by when you were taking him for a walk and look at you both like you were scum.

 

[Kurve]

My old flatmate for many years used to have this massive pitbull/staffy cross type thing, one of my all time favourite animals, super friendly and intelligent. Funny though how many people would pass by when you were taking him for a walk and look at you both like you were scum.

I've always had dogs and some I've trained over and above basic but the most savage, uncontrollable beast of a thing I ever saw was actually a standard poodle. When it was quiet, it was plotting a sneak attack.