Although dogs have long been a common sight in the outdoor patios of restaurants around Los Angeles, it wasn’t until August of 2014 that the California Legislature passed a bill to make it legal, protecting business owners from potential lawsuits and patrons from tickets.

It is far from being as permissive as, say, France, where well-behaved dogs of all sizes are allowed in the main spaces of bars, cafes and restaurants. But the bill permits owners traveling with their pets to spend less time locked up their hotel rooms and more time out and about with their four-legged friends. With Southern California’s agreeable weather, hanging outside rather than inside is hardly a punishment.

Here are the ABC’s of eating with dogs in public:

A) The owner of the food facility must elect to allow pet dogs in its outdoor dining area. They are not obligated to allow pets; they are free to decide what works best for their business.
B) The pet dog must be on a leash or confined in a pet carrier and under the control of the pet dog owner.
C) Pet dogs are not allowed on chairs, benches, seats, or other fixtures.
D) There must be a separate outdoor entrance where pet dogs enter without going through the food establishment to reach the outdoor dining area.
E) The outdoor dining area must not be used for food or drink preparation or the storage of utensils, but a food employee may refill a beverage glass in the outdoor dining area from a pitcher or other container.
F) Food and water provided to pet dogs shall be in single-use disposable containers.
G) Food employees are prohibited from having direct contact with pet dogs while on duty. A food employee who does have that prohibited direct contact shall wash his or her hands immediately.
H) The outdoor dining area must be kept clean. Surfaces that have been contaminated by dog excrement or other bodily fluids shall be cleaned and sanitized.
I) The food facility owner ensures compliance with local ordinances related to sidewalks, public nuisance and sanitation.
Check with the concierge at your hotel for neighbourhood-specific restaurant suggestions.

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