Dog lovers rejoice — soon, your pet may be allowed to dine legally with you on the patio of your favorite restaurant.
North Coast Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada is sponsoring a bill to let restaurant owners decide whether they want to be pet friendly.
"We are trying to address the widespread practice that local governments have already started to recognize, but unfortunately are still in violation of state law," said Yamada, D-Davis.
Her district takes in Sonoma Valley, Rohnert Park, Bennett Valley and Oakmont.
Under California law, it's illegal to allow dining with dogs, except in cases of "working" dogs, such as seeing-eye dogs that assist the blind. Numerous places allow doggy dining, however, despite the violation of state law. Yamada's bill would allow any dog to sit outside with its owner.
"Working dogs are permitted," she said. "But if you were just outside with your pet dog and wanted to step in somewhere and get a cup of coffee or get something to eat, then you're not allowed under the law to sit with them in the outdoor section."
The Assembly last week approved the bill, AB 1965, with almost no dissent — the vote was 71-1 — and the legislation is likely to receive the same support in the Senate, Yamada said.
If the bill passes the Senate and is signed by dog owner Gov. Jerry Brown, restaurants wouldn't be required to let dogs on their patios — they would simply no longer be at risk of a citation for doing so.
Judie Mancuso, the president of the nonprofit animal welfare organization Social Compassion in Legislation, approached Yamada about sponsoring the bill. Her sister is Napa Valley College Board of Trustee Mary Ann Mancuso, who said her son takes their two pups out to eat out quite a bit.
"Of course, I'm always happy to be there at lunch sitting in the company of somebody else's furry friend," Mancuso said. "In Napa, we have several restaurants that welcome pet owners to bring their little friends to dine on outside patios and various designated areas."
The legislation faces no organized opposition. California's first dog, Brown's Welsh corgi, Sutter, has yet to take a position on the bill, but Yamada is optimistic he will.
"We still have quite a few steps to go," Yamada said. "We don't know what the governor's going to do .
.
. let's hope by then we'll have an opportunity to ask Sutter what he thinks."
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