Pensacola residents sound off on bill banning pets from restaurants. What do you think?

Annie Blanks | Pensacola News Journal

A new bill making its way through the Florida House of Representatives aims to curb the abuse of laws that allow service dogs in public places by banning all non-service animals from Florida eateries — a prospect that doesn't sit well with Pensacola dog-lovers.

House Bill 243 wouldn't affect pets in approved outdoor dining areas, but would "prohibit non-service animals from entering specified public food service establishments." It also would prohibit pets in other places of business and would require the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to adopt rules, create a publicly accessible website for complaints and set penalties.

Pensacola is considered mostly a Fido-friendly place, with many local establishments allowing well-behaved dogs in their dining rooms and patios.

D.C. Reeves owns Perfect Plain Brewing Co. and Garden and Grain, both of which are dog-friendly. He said he's had "zero" issues with dogs at either of his establishments, including in the two years the brewery has been open.

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He said he adamantly opposes House Bill 243 and hopes it doesn’t become law, because dog-friendly spaces encourage a community to grow and make it more attractive for people looking for a place to live.

“People can work anywhere in the world now, and what they want is to live in great places that are fun, engaging and exciting places, and people want to be able to bring their dogs with them to have a beer and sit out and have a meal,” Reeves said. “To be able to have that experience builds a community, in my mind. So I don’t think we can say, ‘Let’s prohibit dogs from going in restaurants and bars,’ and then in the same breath say ‘We’re here to attract small businesses and economic development.’ ”

On a pleasant Tuesday afternoon on Palafox Street in Pensacola, several people had their dogs with them as they ate at local restaurants.

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Leo Hood was sitting outside Khon's on Palafox with his 5-year-old English bulldog, Stella.

Hood said the only reason he chose to come to downtown Pensacola to enjoy lunch was because he could bring Stella, and he thinks the proposed bill is "dumb."

"That's a very aggressive way to fix such a minor issue," he said.

Jessica Killian was sitting nearby with her black lab puppy, Tito, and her human friend Brooke Paulk.

Killian and Paulk said they understood the need for such a law but hoped it wouldn't affect places they like to frequent in Pensacola.

"I think it's bad if people abuse the whole service animal thing, and there are people who really do need service animals," Killian said. "I only brought Tito because it's outdoors, I would never take him inside or have him around a bunch of people where he would be stressed."

Paulk agreed.

"I think if you're going to bring your dog around, just make sure they're behaved," she said. "Just like kids."

Annie Blanks can be reached at ablanks@pnj.com or 850-435-8632.