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Food

Bringing Your Dog to a NYC Restaurant Is About to Get a Whole Lot Easier

Luckily for NYC’s endeavoring eaters, it’s now easier than ever to feast at a restaurant with man’s best friend in tow—and you best believe your dog isn’t going to stiff you on Venmo.
Photo via Flickr user elisharene

Any gastronome worth his or her salt knows that a meal is only as good at the company with whom it is enjoyed. Luckily for NYC's endeavoring eaters, it's now easier than ever to feast at a restaurant with man's best friend in tow—and you best believe your dog isn't going to stiff you on Venmo.

But getting to this point hasn't been easy. In early 2015, the State of New York passed a law that allowed restaurant patrons to bring their dogs to outdoor dining areas of willing restaurants, as long as there was no problem with contaminated food, utensils, or equipment.

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But the City of New York was not so keen on the idea from the get-go. When the City's Health Department had to put rules and regulations in place to implement the new state law, they took a pretty strict approach. The original regulations that the City proposed were so ridiculous, they made it almost unimaginable that anyone could legally dine with their dog.

The early proposals would have required restaurant owners to check paperwork to make sure each and every dog who dined in the outdoor portion of their establishments were fully licensed and vaccinated. Not exactly the type of documentation you want to be grabbing on your way to a BEC sandwich and Bloody Mary.

"Just because the city opposes this law does not mean they are allowed to neuter it through onerous regulation," New York State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said at the time.

But good news for New Yorkers who like to enjoy a drunk brunch with their pooch: The city has just set its final rules, and they have backed off from the over-the-top requirements of the early proposals.

Under the new and final regulations, restaurants will only be required to post signs that say visiting dogs must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies—so expect to see those signs in addition to the "employees must wash hands" postings. Restaurateurs will not be required to check for compliance. In addition, the new regulations drop the previously proposed requirement that specific barriers be constructed to keep dogs away from pedestrians. The rules that say dogs should not be allowed to touch dining surfaces or obstruct aisle space between tables will remain in effect.

Assemblywoman Rosenthal, who evidently likes a dog pun or two, had this to say: "I'm so pleased that the city Department of Health threw dog lovers a bone."

Why the State of New York has a softer spot for dining with dogs than does the City of New York, we may never know. But we're glad that Bailey and Bella will finally be able to do brunch this Sunday.