Restaurants can now allow dogs at patios without AHS approval

Restaurant goers can bring new friends to the patios if those establishments allow.

The provincial government announced on Thursday that restaurants and and bars no longer need approval from a public health inspector to allow dogs on patios.

It will be left in the restaurant’s hands whether or not they want to allow pooches on their patios.

Prior to this change in food regulation, an operator of an establishment was required to request authorization from AHS before allowing non-service dogs in outdoor eating areas and a public health inspector would assess the facility’s plan.

“Restaurants Canada would like to thank the Alberta government for responding to the feedback from the food-service sector and removing this hurdle to allow dogs on outdoor patios,” said Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president, Western Canada, Restaurants Canada, in a press release.

“This common-sense change reduces red tape for restaurant owners, provides them with more flexibility, and will also encourage people to dine out more often as the hard-hit food-service sector begins the long road to economic recovery from the pandemic.”

If the restaurant policy okays this legislation, non-service dogs are allowed on patios only and must not pass through any indoor food handling areas, such as dining and food preparation areas, the government says.

Plus customers must keep their dogs on a leash or in a carrier and have physical control of the dog at all times.

Other animals are not included in this change.