Pasta with pets? Senators propose letting dogs dine on restaurant patios

By JASMINE WATTS
Capital News Service
LANSING — Canines may be allowed as dinner guests in outdoor restaurant dining areas if a new bill passes. Sens. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, and Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, say they are sponsoring the bill to help increase tourism. Current law allows service animals in food establishments but generally prohibits other animals. The new law would allow pet dogs in outdoor dining areas and give local governments the ability to adopt an ordinance that is more restrictive than the bill.