Dogged determination to overturn pub dog ban laws

A veterinarian has slammed laws banning pooches from inside pubs across Melbourne as “outdated and unnecessary”, saying if dogs were so unhygienic “all us vets would be dead”. It comes as a petition to scrap the prohibition gathers momentum.

Bar owner Paul Tudor enjoying a drink at the Tipsy Cow with his dog Nisha.

A groundswell of support is mounting to overturn laws banning dogs from inside pubs.

And a veterinarian has labelled the harsh laws as “outdated and unnecessary”.

It comes as Footscray’s Bar Josephine faces a $200,000 fine if they continue to breach the Australian Food Standards Code, which bans dogs — except assistance dogs — from inside premises serving food.

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The bar was slapped with a warning from Maribyrnong Council following complaints about their canine patrons.

But owner Aaron Donato said the bar had been letting dogs inside for almost three years with no issues.

A petition, calling for the laws to be scrapped, has garnered more than 800 signatures in two days.

The petition, by dog-friendly venue finder website Pupsy, says the laws label pooches a hygiene risk, despite there being no evidence of humans becoming ill from eating food contaminated by an infected dog.

A push to allow dogs in bars and pubs across Melbourne is gathering steam. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The Food Standards Code is set by the Federal Government but enforced under state and local laws.

Vet Anupam Sharma, who owns Port Melbourne’s dog-friendly whisky bar The Tipsy Cow, told the Leader the laws were “utterly ridiculous”.

“We’ve been open 20 months and there have been no problems, no fights between dogs,” she said.

“To be honest, they’re better behaved than some of our human patrons.”

Dr Sharma said there was “no medical evidence” to back up the ban.

“As a veterinarian I can tell you there’s no need for (the ban),” she said.

“If dogs were so infectious and so contagious to humans then no one would have them in their houses and all us vets would be dead.”

She said the ban, which excludes assistance dogs, was “confusing and conflicting”.

“Those exceptions are based on the fact that humans need those dogs with them — but it doesn’t make sense if the laws are truly based on hygiene,” she said.

“How are those dogs any healthier or less contagious than another dog?”

Dr Sharma acknowledged putting a group of dogs together in a small space could increase the risk of a fight, but most patrons who brought their pets to the bar were responsible dog owners.

“Especially in Port Phillip where they are mostly educated, high-earning people who love their dogs and want to be able to bring them out,” she said.

“The legislation needs to change and be brought in line with what the community wants.”

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Meanwhile, a dogfight recently erupted over a push for pet owners to bring their furry friends to the Chapel St strip, with one councillor saying the Bondi Vet-backed Paw-On-The-Door campaign encouraged people to flout food safety laws.

But other councillors and the Chapel Street Precinct Association said the program was revitalising the region by increasing foot traffic to the area.

Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Chrissie Maus said the group was “standing defiant” that the Australian-first initiative had been embraced by thousands of shoppers.

“A projected increase in retail spending since the launch ... is almost a million dollars in just four weeks,” she said.