Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/329100
municipalities and to each food service estab- lishment licensed to allow dogs in outdoor seating areas, no one but Health Department staff was present for the session. The ordinance does require all licensed restaurants to make certain employees "wash their hands promptly after touching, petting, or otherwise handling any dog," and prohib- its employees from having contact with dogs "while serving food or beverages or handling tableware or before entering other parts [of the establishments]." Further, the ordinance requires owners to keep their dogs on leashes and under control at all times. Just before the June 10 vote, Commissioner Nora Patterson chuckled as she recalled the "brigade of people" who showed up, pleading with the board to adopt the original ordinance in 2007. Many of them had photos of their dogs on cards they wore akin to ID badges, she added. "I'm almost sorry we can't do a repeat performance." Rachel Brown Hackney Village Café in Siesta Village is among 21 Sarasota County restaurants licensed to allow pets to dine outside with patrons. Photo by Rachel Hackney Sarasota News Leader June 13, 2014 Page 79