Owners of bed and breakfasts in Europe have been banned from keeping dogs in their kitchens under a European Union ruling that could see hundreds of family-run businesses close.

Officials claim that the animals pose a potential health and safety hazard to guests, but, as an article in the Telegraph points out, many bed and breakfast owners have vowed to close rather than turn out the family pet.

Tish Bowditch, 51, said her Labrador, Maisie, is routinely fussed over by guests at their home, Parnham Farm, in Dorset, where they rent out three rooms.

"Maisie's home is in the kitchen. ..." she said. "We haven't got a suitable outhouse for her. I am always very particular when it comes to preparing food and I am extra careful to keep her away. "She wanders around the dining area, but I always make sure the guests are okay with her first," she added. "Most of the time they are and make a fuss over her. I think we would have to ask ourselves if it is worth carrying on as Maisie is part of the way we live."

The directive from EU -- a political and economic community of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe -- places small bed and breakfasts in the same category as hotels and restaurants, which are not allowed to keep pets in the kitchen.

David Weston, the chairman of the British Bed and Breakfast Association, said that he had never come across a case of food poisoning linked to the family dog in any of his 10,000 members.

"The regulations weren't designed to cover people's homes, which is essentially what a bed and breakfast is," he said. "Most of our members practice good standards of cleanliness and we think the regulations should be enforced in a common sense way. "