Dogs allowed to join in outdoor dining, per new state law

A new state law will allow dogs to partake in outdoor dining after Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 17 on Thursday.

The measure will go into effect on April 25, 60 days after it was signed. It allows restaurants to permit dogs in outdoor dining areas alongside their owners if they satisfy a list of other criteria, like putting up a sign to alert patrons about where dogs are allowed, taking certain food safety measures, and ensuring dogs are kept under their owners’ control and that aggressive or unruly dogs are removed. Restaurant staff are not allowed to play with or pet the dogs, per the new law.

Service animals are subject to a different set of laws and can enter restaurants. Some people who use service animals were concerned that poor behavior of non-service dogs could have a negative impact, like greater restrictions, on those who depend on service dogs.

The bill had bipartisan support, with Republican and Democratic co-sponsors.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dogs allowed to join in outdoor dining, per new NH law