(Cuero Online News Introduces New Columnist – The Voice of Cuero,Texas)
By El Zorro
Dear El Zorro,
The other day I was at a local restaurant, and I almost threw up my food. I was having a perfectly good time. There I was with my husband enjoying my margarita and the tasty street tacos when this lady walks in with her dog!
Yuck! And before you think I don’t like dogs let me just say that I love dogs. Well, most dogs….my dog! Not other people’s untrained dog.
God forbid! I say anything about Dogs nowadays. Any negative talk about dogs is likely to get me reported to PETA. But I will say this, dogs do not belong in a restaurant! There! I said it! Anyway, isn’t there some health department issue on this?
I can understand if it’s a service dog for someone with a disability, and I’m cool with that but I don’t think this was the case. Service dogs are usually well trained but not this dog. This lady had him on her lap and she was struggling to keep him still. Then it jumps off her lap and kept circling around until it finds this one spot underneath the table. I swear it looked like it was about to do its business right then and there. And I kept looking around for someone to say something and what’s worse is that I seemed to be the only person who was bothered by this.
At the risk of sounding like a Karen I said nothing, but I was fuming! I asked the waiter to make my food to go and I hurried out of there.
Help me Zorro, what are the laws about dogs in restaurants?
Dear Curious Canine Conundrum,
Ah, the age-old dilemma of dining with our four-legged friends! It’s a topic that stirs more controversy than a spicy salsa at a Tex-Mex joint. Fear not, my fellow foodie, for El Zorro is here to untangle the leash of confusion and sniff out the facts.
The Doggy Dilemma
Our reader, vexed by a non-service dog’s presence at a restaurant, grapples with the eternal question: “To bark or not to bark?” She wisely refrained from unleashing her inner Karen (a term that now rivals “avocado toast” in millennial lingo). But what say the laws of the Lone Star State?
Texas Tidbits
- No Paws on Plates: Texas law, like a vigilant watchdog, prohibits live animals (yes, even those adorable furballs) in restaurants where food could potentially be contaminated. Kibbles and bits have no place near our enchiladas.
- Exceptions Galore: But wait! Exceptions abound. Service dogs, those noble companions trained to assist individuals with disabilities, get a golden ticket. They’re welcome to dine alongside us mere mortals. And let’s not forget our trusty police pups—they’re in the clear too.
- Local Flavor: Here’s where it gets interesting. Counties and cities can tweak the rules. In Dallas, restaurants can apply for an exception to allow dogs in outdoor patio areas (as long as food isn’t whipped up there). In Austin, any eatery can host alfresco doggy diners, provided the pup doesn’t barge through the kitchen doors.
The Tail End
So, dear reader, if Fido’s not sporting a service vest, you’re not barking up the wrong tree. But remember, discretion is key. No one wants to be the howling hound in a crowded eatery. And if all else fails, just give your neighbor’s schnauzer a knowing nod—it’s the universal language of “We’re in this together.”
Until next time, keep your paws clean and your salsa spicy!
Barkingly yours,
El Zorro
Got a burning question? Send it my way at cueroonlinenew@gmail.com I promise to answer without a single woof.