SAN ANTONIO -- A few places around town allow clients to dine with their dogs. But chances are those restaurants are breaking the law.
Texas law generally prohibits restaurants from allowing pets on their property.
But six months ago, Metro Health came up with a pilot program that would allow San Antonio restaurants to become more pet friendly as long as they apply for a permit and follow certain guidelines and regulations. As of now, there are only a couple of restaurants operating legally.
"Part of the variance process they have to tell us how they'll keep patios clean, how they'll deal with pet accidents and address several health issues," said Stephen Barscewski with Metro Health.
The Flying Saucer's general manager, Lucas Mobley, tells KENS 5 he didn't know about this program. He's been allowing dogs on his patio for eight years. But Mobley says two weeks ago, health officials told him he could no longer allow the pets. Mobley says he's forced to turn away customer after customer.
Ironically, it was another restaurant owner that came up with the permit idea and pitched it to the city.
John McClung, co-owner of Los Patios, tells us he thought of the idea after traveling the country and realizing that San Antonio is way behind when it comes to dog-friendly restaurants. McClung added that those who were letting dogs on their property were doing it illegally.
"It's merely a mechanism that the city is putting in place for dining establishments that want to be dog friendly, to comply with common sense rules, so they are dog friendly," said McClung.
Barscewski says the program has gone before the city council but has not been finalized. It will be discussed again sometime this fall. In the meantime, Barscewski says restaurants are welcome to apply for a variance and become a part of the pilot program.
Guidelines include an outdoors patio that must be accessible from the outside. Restaurant owners must post signs telling customers to keep pets on a leash. A dog's tag must be clearly visible with an up to date rabies vaccination. Also, hand sanitizers must be provided on the patio.
Those are just a few of the rules McClung has already posted on his patio.
As for Mobley, he says he wants to operate legally as well and believes the program is great for restaurants. However, he adds that he was never told about the pilot program when health officials told him he can no longer provide business for customers with pets.
Mobley says he has already applied for the permit and wants to regain his pet-friendly business as soon as he can.
