In Washington State over 64% of residents report having at least one pet. And in a society where 90% of pet owners claim their pet as "part of the family," there is growing demand and great public support for "pet friendly" public spaces including restaurant/food service establishments.

According to current Washington State Health regulations all "live animals" are prohibited from the premises of all food service establishments. This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces/patios in restaurants, breweries, wineries, bars, etc. This petition seeks to have Bellingham City Council pass a variance to these outdated and unnecessary restrictions, opening up the option for food service establishments to choose whether they wish to allow a "pet friendly" spaces, as long as they meet new and reasonable health & sanitation guidelines. 

The Journal of Environmental Health found the public health risks of allowing dogs in restaurants is “very low as long as safety, sanitation and hygiene practices are enforced," but banning dogs from these establishments hurts both small business owners & the community. Let Bellingham City Council know the public demands immediate action to update these laws and decriminalize allowing dogs on the patio.