Let's eat outdoors, doggonit!

By JUSTINE MCGUIRE
Capital News Service
LANSING – Don’t forget the doggy dish. Michiganians might be able to dine at restaurants with their furry friends soon – at least if they are outdoors. Dogs may be allowed to accompany their owners in outdoor dining areas if a bill introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, passes. O’Brien said she wrote the bill after being approached by constituents who were concerned because they could bring their dogs into patio seating areas when traveling out of state to Florida but not in Michigan. The bill would allow a restaurant to decide whether to permit dogs in outdoor seating areas and would let it turn away dogs if there is a health or safety hazard present.