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NYC Health Department Fights Assembly's Dog Dining Bill

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's been some ruff reaction to a proposal in Albany that would allow dog owners to bring their pooches to restaurants.

The New York City Health Department opposes the legislation, asserting that dogs at restaurants can create a risk to the health and safety of customers, restaurant workers and other dogs, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.

But Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, who is sponsoring the bill, said city officials are "ill-informed."

NYC Health Department Fights Assembly Dog Dining Bill

"This dining with dogs has been the law in California for almost half a year, and there have been no reported incidences," she said. "It's also the law in many European countries, where in France, for example, you can actually take your dog with you inside the restaurant."

Rosenthal's bill would allow dogs only in outdoor eating areas and would be voluntary at the discretion of the restaurant owner.

Under the bill, restaurants that choose to allow dogs would have to have a separate entrance for the outdoor dining area. Dogs would have to be leashed, and restaurant servers would be prohibited from playing with the animals.

"This is a practice that has been tested," Rosenthal said. "It's been accepted. It's something that restaurant owners like because it can appeal to different and new patrons, and it's something people like because they take their dogs with them everywhere they go."

Rosenthal has not spoken to Gov. Andrew Cuomo about the idea.

The Assembly Health Committee will consider the bill Tuesday.

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