CENTRAL FLORIDA — More Central Florida cities are allowing dogs to dine with their owners at restaurants. On Tuesday night, the city of Mount Dora became one of them.
Up until now, restaurants were violating state law. There was an unwritten rule at some restaurants in town that if dogs were on a leash and well-behaved, their owners could bring them along.
City officials made it a written rule during a meeting Tuesday night.
Anywhere you find Christina Baker, you'll usually find Ramey and Wrigley.
Every chance I can bring them anywhere, I do. I go down to Winter Park, I come here, I go to Tavares. I go everywhere with my girls," Baker said.
That includes some of downtown Mount Dora's favorite restaurants that cater to canines.
"Of course they have a doggie menu. So they can get pate, scrambled eggs, and chicken. And everybody gets a bowl of water," restaurant owner Keith Hatcher said.
The city has allowed dogs in outdoor dining areas for years, but as far as state regulators were concerned it was not legal because the city had no doggie-dining ordinance.
"I find it hard to believe anyone wouldn't love it. But, I guess there are people out there. We all have opinions of what's good, what's bad," said shop owner Carla Pereira.
But because some residents did complain and threatened to turn the city in, official rules have now been drawn up.
"Of all the years out here anybody say, 'Move my seat?'" WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen asked Hatcher.
"Never had a complaint in 11 years. Not one," Hatcher said.
But it would only take one. So next time, Ramey and Wrigley dine out with Christina at Cecile's,' none of them will be violating the law.
"I even have two big dogs I periodically bring with me, and nobody really complains about them. The dogs are well-behaved. If you have a dog that's not, hopefully you're smart enough not to bring him out in public," said Baker.
Even though diners and dogs mix in Winter Park, the city does not have an official ordinance. That's because the restaurants' outdoor tables are on public sidewalks.