FAIRHOPE – Fairhope City Council members endorsed a bill to allow pets to join their owners to dine in certain restaurants.
The council voted Friday, March 13 to support House Bill 209 currently in the Alabama Legislature to permit a pet dog in an outdoor dining area of a food establishment under certain circumstances. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Foley, passed the House of Representatives in Montgomery and is now before the Senate.
Fairhope Council members said the bill would allow restaurant owners with outdoor dining whether pets could be join their owners.
“This would give the restaurant owners with outdoor seating the right to determine whether or not they would allow dogs and, I guess, cats to dine with their owners,” Councilman Jimmy Conyers said.
Council President Jack Burrell also said the decision to allow pets would be between restaurant operators and patrons.
“If it’s your restaurant and you’re unhappy, let the owner know, don’t let the council know please, or you can, but this is just in support of the bill that give them the right and if you’re in favor of it, also let that restaurant know and thank them for that if that’s something that you would desire to do,” Burrell said.
