On the last day of the Maryland 2011 legislative session the law banning dogs from restaurants was overturned. The concern has been about public health and while canines will now be allowed at restaurants their access will be restricted.
House Bill 941 states the change will be 'authorizing a restaurant with an outdoor dining area to allow a patron's dog to accompany the patron in the outdoor dining area of the restaurant during specified hours; requiring specified restaurant owners to give notice to local health departments under specified circumstances; authorizing restaurant owners to make specified determinations and to limit the size and type of dog that may accompany a patron into the outdoor dining area; requiring specified restaurant owners to post a notice; etc.'.
Here in Carroll County we have several establishments that offer outdoor areas so check with the individual restaurant to find out if they will participate and what their specific rules will be. This will not take effect immediately and we will hear more about the issue in the months ahead.
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