El Paso restaurants welcome new law that allows dining with your dog

Dining with your dogs — a new state law will now allow you to bring your four-legged friends to restaurants.

Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 476. It allows dogs in patios areas of restaurants, at the restaurants’ discretion.

Some restaurants like Brass Monkey in west El Paso already allow customers to bring their pets.

“We’ve always welcomed pets here,” said David Morales, manager of Brass Monkey, a restaurant and bar in West El Paso.

Morales said the restaurant has never had an issue with dogs. However, one couple who ate outside while dogs were also in the patio area did. They claimed the dog’s hair was getting in their food.

“We accommodated their needs,” Morales said. “But we’ve never shied away from dogs in our establishment whether it be inside or outside.”

The new law amends a portion of Texas health code that denies dogs from restaurants.

The restaurant must post a sign in the area where dogs are allowed.

Customers must keep their dog on leash if they do decide to bring them.

The dogs cant be brought inside, and they are now allowed anywhere near food is being prepared.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said dog owner Kendrick Johnson. “As a matter of fact, I have two dogs, one big one, a mastiff and a little Chihuahua so as long as the dog is trained and the owners of cleaning up after their dogs and the dogs are behaving, I don’t see an issue with it.”

If you plan to bring your dog out to grab a bite, the Humane Society of El Paso recommends to slowly introduce your dog to new things..

“You can’t just take them immediately to the biggest, busiest restaurant and expect and immediately expect them to do well,” said Kim Lambert, enrichment coordinator for the Humane Society of El Paso.

“Start them in your yard start them in the backyard. Kind of get them used to more people socialize them with new folks, family, friends, other dogs, cats.”

Morales believes this new law will actually help improve business.

“Bringing in more dog lovers is just going to bring in more revenue for us, and we’re never going to say now to business,” Morales said.

The law goes into effect September 1. To read the bill in its entirety click here.