Pet-friendly patios are becoming increasingly common across the United States. Restaurants invite families to bring their dogs and market these spaces as a welcoming environments for pets.

But “pet-friendly” should also mean reasonably safe.

I am starting this petition after experiencing a tragic loss that no pet owner should ever endure. While dining at a restaurant that advertised a pet-friendly patio, my two-year-old miniature poodle slipped out of her harness. Millie then tragically lost her life after fitting through wide patio railing gaps at a restaurant that advertised a pet-friendly environment. Within seconds, she accessed the feeder and was struck and killed by a vehicle. 

This was devastating and traumatic.

While I fully acknowledge that pet owners are responsible for supervising their animals, I believe businesses that promote pet-friendly accommodations should evaluate whether their patio structures reasonably protect dogs from foreseeable escape risks. As we know accidents can happen and just how we try to prevent them from happening to humans, we should for pets as well. 

In Texas and many other states, pet owners are required to exercise reasonable care and control over their animals. Local leash laws can result in fines if dogs are not properly restrained in public spaces. While pets are legally considered property in many jurisdictions, owners are still held responsible for ensuring their animals are supervised and contained.

If pet owners are expected to take reasonable precautions, businesses that actively promote pet-friendly spaces should likewise consider reasonable safety measures to reduce foreseeable risks. 

We are not asking for extreme regulations or burdensome requirements.

We are asking for common-sense safety measures such as:

• Installing mesh backing on patio railings

• Reducing railing gap spacing on pet-friendly patios

• Adding protective barriers where patios border traffic areas

• Clearly disclosing containment risks for small breeds

This petition calls for the development of nationwide safety standards for restaurants that promote pet-friendly patios, allowing businesses flexibility in how they comply while ensuring basic protection for pets of all sizes.

Supporting this petition means supporting:

✔ Responsible business practices

✔ Safer community spaces
✔ The protection of small and vulnerable pets
✔ Preventing avoidable tragedies

We respectfully urge restaurant chains, local establishments, and regulatory bodies to review current patio designs and adopt safety standards that truly reflect what “pet-friendly” should mean.

I’ve started a petition calling for nationwide safety standards for restaurants that advertise pet-friendly patios.

Please sign and share in honor of Millie. Let’s turn heartbreak into change. 🐾