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POLL: Should pets be allowed into hotels, restaurants and bars?
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @ 10:59 AM

A petition has been launched calling for the whole of Spain to follow Málaga's example and allow pets into all hotels, bars and restaurants.

In the Costa del Sol capital, unless the owner expressly prohibits it, customers can take their cats and dogs with them when they go on holiday or go out for a meal or a drink thanks to a change in local bye-laws.
Three in 10 Spaniards want to take their dogs on holiday with them and say they will decide their destination according to whether or not pets are allowed.

More and more seaside towns are setting up sections of the beach where bathers can bring their dogs year-round, with shaded areas, water bowls, tethering areas and special equipment for clearing up after their pets, with Gandia (Valencia province) and El Campello (Alicante province) being pioneers on the east coast.
And for regular travellers, new expats or returning expats who want or need to take their cats and dogs across borders, hotels that allow animals are essential.

German airlines allow small pets in baskets to be carried on as hand luggage, and expats in Spain returning for Christmas or short breaks often take their cats and dogs with them.

Málaga has gone a step further and allows pets into all accommodation, plus eateries, pubs and cafés – and if the owners do not wish to let animals in, he or she must state this clearly on the door and in all advertising.
Now, a petition on the pro-animal campaign site SOS Vox is urging the rest of Spain to follow suit.
“Málaga's change in law helps to continue to improve the relationship between man and animal,” says the petition's author, Blanca Rodríguez, from Almería.

At the time of publication, over 6,000 people had signed in just two days. What do you think?

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21 Comments

pommers said:
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @ 2:38 PM

As a pet owner and lover - I still think this should not be allowed.
Many people are allergic to cat and dog fur so it could cause serious problems for many asthmatics.
Typically, may owners do not keep their pets under control which would be very annoying to me

GB45 said:
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 @ 10:07 AM

Have to agree with pommers. It wasn't so long ago that you would find dogs in restaurants and bars and then it changed, for the better in my opinion, so can't see any reason for changing back. I have no objections to dog friendly hotels with rooms reserved for dog owners, but not in the restaurant please.

scubamike said:
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 @ 1:52 PM

I agree with GB45 I have owned dogs in the past but now when we travel around Spain we always book into hotels where no pets are allowed I do not want to sleep in a room that has been shared with dogs or listen to barking dogs whilst the owners are downstairs in the bar oblivious to the annoyance they are creating

Leo said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 9:42 AM

Despite what enamoured pet owners believe, many pets are not as well behaved as the owners like to think. They can be extremely annoying to other guests, whether they are pet owners of not. However the most salient point in my opinion was made by Pommers…. some people are just allergic to animal furs. They don't have to touch it or sniff it. A single strand of cat hair can cause all kinds of problems for the sufferer. I have personal knowledge of this because a friend's wife can not enter our house because we have 2 cats. Even when the cats are outside and we freshly vacuum, she is still very, very allergic.
I voted NO.
Cheers
Leo

mali said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 10:06 AM

if you want to eat or sleep with your dog do it in your house , it is their place at home not in restaurant or hotel

Windee said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 11:31 AM

Its not exceptable for any animals especially dogs to be in any place where food is being served or eaten, were is the law on hygene......surely there are rules in place for these situation. I don't want someone petting and fondling a dog and then serving me my food....just seeing a dog any dog in a restaurant while eating makes me nausea, its very unpleasant.
There are dog owners that have no thought for others.... i.e. tossing the dogs scraps of food from their plates , dogs going on walk about.... these owners are enjoying their meal and your meal is stressful ......it just doesn't bear thinking about.

Hazel said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 12:23 PM

Dogs are unhygienic, they carry germs in their fur and their saliva as well as deficating and urinating indiscriminately. They can be a danger to children and adults alike. They often bark incessantly which is of great annoyance to people who do not have dogs. By the way, why aren't dog owners bothered by the constant barking, can anyone explain this? Spain is over run by dogs, kennels and rescue centres can't cope with the vast number of strays. It is about time a humane way of ridding this country of these pests was put into action. No, I would not eat in a restaurant which allowed dogs, nor would I stay in a hotel where these germ ridden creatures are allowed.

Maggie May said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 12:42 PM

I am totally flabbergasted hearing about this plan to allow Cats and Dogs into restaurants - like one or two others who commented, I seek out and avoid 'Pet friendly' hotels, being heartily sick of requesting feather free bedding due to allergies, only to find dog hairs embedded into rugs and carpets! If they go ahead with this scheme, I hope that canny restauranteurs put very clear signage up, when they don't allow pets, as i'm sure this would boost the amount of customers passing through the doors. Is it really too much to expect of owners travelling with pets to exercise, water, and feed them and leave them in the car in the shade ? Get a grip!

marelison said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 1:02 PM

"As a pet lover..." - Who is not a pet lover ? - Pets are really ok if lonely people needs them and very often because of some kind of sickness of the person, but don't forget, pets are animals and should be treated and live like that. This is awfully selfisness to say "YES" and is only build on "me" abut "me" again. - Cats and dogs are bringing allergies, germs, pests and other things that human beings should be aware of. - So I say "NO" because I am an animal lover.

Grretings from Iceland

Carole said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 1:59 PM

This is beyond crazy. Someone needs to examine the source of funding behind adverts where dogs (and cats to a lesser extent) are featured on T.V. ads for beds, cars and even food. Subtle indoctrination but very dangerous. As one person pointed out the problem is that dogs and cats are animals, not people, and should not be treated as such. Most owners do not understand the very real dangers posed by their pets and the annoyance caused to others. There are serious risks on health and safety grounds. why do environmental protection agencies not deal with this threat adequately? The dog lobby needs to be kept in their place and realise that respecting animals for their abilities is a long way from forcing the unpleasant risks on other people. My neighbours son was born blind due to a dog worm infestation during her pregnancy and two neighbouring children had dog worm infestations when only two years old. One child has been permanently disabled ever since after having a large part of her intestines removed. None of these people had dogs, they lived near park land where people "exercised" their dogs - (aka "toilet run") and microscopic dog eggs from decaying faeces floating in the air were breathed in - read about these things you people who think that leaving dog faeces on every pleasant walk is permissable. Apart from the unpleasantness of smelly, barking dogs in hotels and restaurants, planes will be out of bounds for asthmatics soon if dogs and cats are allowed on them as well. Hotels and restaurants banning dogs would soon find an increase in their trade from the likes of me and many others.

Alex from Scotland said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 2:12 PM

Irresponsible idiotic idea.

Irresponsible owners who get a drink in them will end up leaving their pets to do as they like. Nothing worse than eating a meal with a dog or cat slobbering at the mouth begging you for food
These owners would just say it is their right as pets are allowed

elinspain said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 2:34 PM

Certainly not, I don't have a dog & I don't mind them but not where I am eating/drinking for a variety of reasons infact I would AVOID establishments that allowed that to happen.

William02 said:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 @ 3:50 PM

I strongly oppose this. I always sign petitions against cruelty to animals but I agree with all previous comments, this is going overboard. I have had a dog all my life until 1997, I am 60 y.o.. I avoid hotels and restaurant which allow pets. Many pet owners do not respect rules. They do not pick-up. For example there always dogs on beaches, while it is forbiden, children play the sand and people walk barefoot... completely irresponsible!

Terri said:
Monday, February 22, 2016 @ 1:30 PM

Sorry, but I have to disagree with most of the comments here. I'm very much in favor of allowing dogs in hotels and restaurants. I lived for 14 years in Iran, in which dogs aren't allowed anywhere. If you walk your dog on a sidewalk, the dog is likely to be seized and you will be fined. The same goes for driving with your dogin a car, which even includes taking your dog to the vet! Why these draconian laws? Because Islam deems dogs unclean! In my opinion, some people are much dirtier than the worst street dog, and as for babies catching diseases from dogs, they can just as easily catch them from an infectious person. In fact, it is a lot more likely.

Dudley said:
Monday, February 22, 2016 @ 9:21 PM

I don't want to walk sleep or eat anywhere your dog has been wiping its bottom etc as it goes along YUK.. If I slept on your bed sat on your couch or I was next to you while you ate after dropping many droppings all week only washed once in a while and it stuck to my un-wiped hairy bottom leaving some hairy dropping bits behind would you sleep or sit where I've just sat or eat beside me ? Keep them at home, it's you that loves it no one else. It's not the poor dogs fault its yours. I don't allow visitors a dog in my house with me or babies sitting/crawling around, its just un-thinkable... Yuk Disgusting .

Hazel said:
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 @ 10:18 AM

Terri, Islam is correct in this instance dogs - are unclean, there can be no argument about it. As previously stated, love your dog at home but don't expect everyone else to want to be subjected to the unwashed, slavering creature.

Gringo said:
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 @ 11:02 AM

I'm a cat person myself & although I don't dislike dogs, what really irritates me is why most dog owners seem to think that everyone else should love their pet, encourage/tolerate it's attentions & barking! Dogs usually give unquestioning loyalty & affection to their owner & they clearly love this but I don't appreciate or welcome their attentions, sniffing, nuzzling & licking various regions of my anatomy is not something I enjoy! Then there is the dog hair, doggy smell & occasional barking of untrained dogs that can ruin an otherwise pleasant meal which has happened to us on several occasions! Dogs in restaurants? A definite no from me, not even in what is classed as the "outside section" of many Spanish establishments; pets in any food establishment is unhealthy.

CuckooToo said:
Thursday, February 25, 2016 @ 9:12 PM

Nope, my wife was badly bitten by a dog when she was a child. She is terrified and wouldn't enter any hotel, bar or restaurant where there are dogs

I have nothing against animals, but not when definitely not in restaurants

Davy said:
Saturday, March 12, 2016 @ 12:15 PM

I love cats and dogs, but I think it is not right to allow them into public buildings such as hotels and restaurants..I know this is very popular in France, but it is a really bad idea. My nephew suffers so dreadfully from Asthma that if he goes into any building containing a cat or dog he has to leave immediately. This is in addition the the health factor which is always present.
Sorry, no pets in Restaurants.

Brian said:
Sunday, June 5, 2016 @ 8:42 AM

Left to the owner according to their customer base seems the most sensible.
Legislation is not helpful or desirable

Daggie said:
Sunday, August 14, 2016 @ 11:13 PM

I am a dog owner for more than 30 years. My current dog lives in the house with me, is clean and well behaved. So all my formers dogs were. Dogs like this should be allowed in hotels and restaurants. In Germany dogs are allowed in restaurants where they normally be under the table. Nobody even recognize the dog till the owner leaves and takes the dog with him.
I personally find smokers much more disgusting than dogs and a lot of children are much more naughty, disturbing and louder than a dog.