Overview

• Ald. Timmy Knudsen plans to introduce the measure at Thursday’s City Council meeting after circulating a draft for feedback.
• Businesses posting dog-friendly signs could allow leashed dogs inside or outside under rules such as one dog per table, water only, and protection from inspections or fines.
• Food-preparation areas would remain off-limits to animals and staff would be required to wash hands after contact with a dog or any dog-touched surface.
• The draft sets no overall cap on the number of dogs allowed, a detail the Illinois Restaurant Association says could be tweaked to add a limit.
• The push follows complaints that led to lengthy Health Department inspections at Vanille Patisserie, and current city rules still prohibit non-service dogs in eateries.