Question: Who will be responsible when one of these dogs bites another patron? The restaurant or the owner?

Thank goodness the state senate got this rammed through at the 11th hour. Another year without dogs at outside eateries would have been absolutely intolerable! I hope they don't do something stupid next year, like allow cats, or heaven forbid... ferrets! Now they can get to the less important stuff, like wind farms and gay marriage. Oops, I forgot, they all ready punted those down the road to neverland.

why are people so upset about this? Yes, there are probably more important issues to worry about but, the fact is that dogs at the outdoor table are no more of a threat that dogs walking by the outdoor tables which already happens all the time. If you have a problem with a dog, ask the owner or the waiter to do something about it exactly as you would if you had a problem with anything else another patron may decide to do.

I can`t wait for someone to be bitten and see how this is handled in court. I bet the attorneys can`t wait to take the business and the dogs owner to court.

Me personally if I see a dog at an outdoor restaurant I will NOT patronize the establishment.

I hope that while everone is eating a dog vomits, urinates or deficates at the restaurant. I hope a huge mastiff with slobber all over it`s face shakes itself and the saliva goes everywhere. CAN`T WAIT!!!

I've lived in Florida for the past 6 years and during that time there hasn't been one incident of a dog biting a patron! But, to answer your question: BOTH would be legally responsible if that did occur. It is though, no different than walking down a street and having someone pass by you while walking their dog on a leash. (By the way. Your Orioles STINK!)

People are pissed off about this because it is absolutely stupid to be debating or wasting time on this. It is a smoke screen to cover the more important issues like tax increases on everything, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants/undocumented residents/new americans. However you choose to call or classify them they are obviously not legal Maryland residents.

This is great news!
I wish the cell phone bill had been as lucky.

To those who are complaining that this has taken lawmakers attention away from more important work,, I would say that fixing and doing away with stupid laws currently on the books is among the most important work that lawmakers do. The prohibition on dogs at restaurant patios was among the stupidest, and as such the legislature was right to spend time fixing it.

i don't like dogs, don't wan to be around them so like one of the other commnenters said if i see a dog alfreco, i will not eat there. what about dog hair in people food yuck. more important issues-pass cell phone bill and defeat instate tuition for illegals. what part of illegal don't they get

I am very excited to bring my super well behaved dog out to eat with me & my family!!!

Obviously this issue was important enough to MD or it wouldn't have made it as far as it has...

I would rather have dogs then 3/4 of the kids i see running around tables not listening

Great news! This means that men can wear baseball caps in restaurants too. Baltimore has no class. None.

I only object to dog at outdoor tables if they are using cell phones while letting their children run wild.

Why are they so worried about people petting the dogs and then touching utensils! I am sure if they thought about all the nasty stuff people do with their hands without washing them and then eating they would want to ban people from restaurants too. Do they want to spend time on passing a bill require antibacterial dispensers at all the tables? Most people are responsible enough to wash their hands after they touch a dog or us restrooms. I am very excited that I will be able to dine out with my pooch and my friends pooches!

Do these clowns in Annapolis get paid for this frivolity ??
The best year they could ever have would be one where they were never called into session.
What a waste of time and my money

I love my dog and she is well behaved and healthy. However, I don't think she has any business at a restaurant - inside or outside. I would never subject other people who may be allergic to or simply uncomfortable dining with an animal.

And why would I want to torment her with plates and plates of food she can't enjoy? Or to unruly children?

Leave the dog at home. If you want to spend quality time with your pet, take her for a walk or to the dog park.

This was omitted from the "Winners/Losers" list that was on the Sun this morning.

Pet owner rights: Winner

Marriage equality and human rights: Loser

REDICULOUS! People love their pets more than they respect other people. So, this gives pet lovers a way to passive aggresively disrespect other people by using their pets. The same way these pathologically deranged wierdos use that cell phone and their kids for the same purpose. It is moronic. That is why there was a no pets allowed law in the first place!!! AND keith stinks as bad as his dog. e.g. gone to the dogs

I would put my house on the fact that my dog listens AND acts better than your kid and maybe even you!!!

To those saying that you will not be a patron of a restaurant with dogs in the alfresco seating section, that is within your right to choose not to support that establishment. I have also learned through comprehensive research that most of these locales have also included indoor seating, where canine companions will continue to be prohibited. I, for one, have visited several cities (mostly West of the Mississippi) where dogs are allowed indoors, not just in the outside seating areas. There is no lack of class in these towns as a result. In fact, I found the areas to be exceptionally welcoming, the people courteous and polite, and the food delicious and fur-free. So, I should say that all the dog-hating persons in Baltimore can take some solace in the fact that fleas with not be jumping in their soup while they eat inside, though I think that idea is a bit hyperbolic. More importantly, this bill allows more freedom for restaurant owners. If they wish to allow dogs at their establishment, whether because they are dog-lovers or they believe it will be good for business, they will now be able to do so. I doubt that every eatery with alfresco options will jump at the chance to welcome Fido, Rover, or Rex, however, so don't think that Birdland will suddenly become Dogtown. Also, I doubt untrained or unruly pups would likely end up in this situation, as I expect the owner of such a dog would not enjoy spending their meal tugging on a leash and would more likely leave their pet at home.

I take it many folks have not been to Europe where dogs not only dine outside but inside with their own chair at the table...
Dogs are alot cleaner than many humans!

Hey, this helps restaurant owners if they WANT to allow pets outside in the outside dining area. A lot of other states and countries are dog-friendly.

Doesn't cost the taxpayers anything, unlike giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens.

To those saying that you will not be a patron of a restaurant with dogs in the alfresco seating section, that is within your right to choose not to support that establishment. I have also learned through comprehensive research that most of these locales have also included indoor seating, where canine companions will continue to be prohibited. I, for one, have visited several cities (mostly West of the Mississippi) where dogs are allowed indoors, not just in the outside seating areas. There is no lack of class in these towns as a result. In fact, I found the areas to be exceptionally welcoming, the people courteous and polite, and the food delicious and fur-free. So, I should say that all the dog-hating persons in Baltimore can take some solace in the fact that fleas with not be jumping in their soup while they eat inside, though I think that idea is a bit hyperbolic. More importantly, this bill allows more freedom for restaurant owners. If they wish to allow dogs at their establishment, whether because they are dog-lovers or they believe it will be good for business, they will now be able to do so. I doubt that every eatery with alfresco options will jump at the chance to welcome Fido, Rover, or Rex, however, so don't think that Birdland will suddenly become Dogtown. Also, I doubt untrained or unruly pups would likely end up in this situation, as I expect the owner of such a dog would not enjoy spending their meal tugging on a leash and would more likely leave their pet at home.

"Sen. Delores Kelley said people should not be able to bring dogs to eateries"

Perfect, this nitwit wants to grant in-state tuition to illegal aliens but deny taxpaying citizens additional rights.

So dogs can eat where they want but transgendered people cannot live, eat, sleep where they want! WTF. How do we place more importance on animals than people. I will not be voting for those who passed this and or those who voted against the transgendered bill. And for the record, I am happily married heterosexual with a dog!

This is great news!! And for all of the people that think dogs are dirty, don't like them or have any other issues with them - I feel sorry for you. Perhaps you would not be so unhappy if you had a dog or pet in your life. I've been to several places in Annapolis that do allow dogs and there have never been any issues. And if you're a dog hater - please don't come to Annapolis because they are EVERYWHERE!!! :)

Really? There are no other more pressing issues on the last day of the Session than whether or not to allow dogs at outdoor eateries? You're telling me they have solved all budget issues, passed all the important laws and had nothing left but this on their plate? Come. on.

This is a property rights issue and nothing else. It made sense to pass.
I see the terminally stupid crowd is out in force today - "I don't like dogs, therefore I think this is wrong." Oh and I love the dolt who wrote "Great news! This means that men can wear baseball caps in restaurants too. Baltimore has no class. None." Please direct me, sir, to the section of the Maryland code that addresses hat wearing in restaurants. Baltimore has class. You have no brain cells.

Personally, I always carry some sort of weapon with me 24 /7 and I really don't care for dogs at all...especially when they want to sniff my balls...so...beware dog lovers ...even if I don't feel threatened by your stinking mutt and your dog even so much as brushes up against me...it will be me and it and you too if you dare to jump in the middle of the slaughter of you bow-wow. Advice ...keep your freaking, hairy four legged, flea bitten dog away from me by at least 3 feet (my designated person space) because I don't care what may happen to it ...or you!!!!! BTW...I will warn you before I take action. Have a nice day!

Senator Delores won't be eatin and Johnny boy may be a gunnin; but my labs and I will be partyin up the town come 7/1. If yuo can't see the fun in this, then you have no sense of humor and need to go to Johnny boys house for a good ol game of russian roulette.

Such negative comments from some people on here. If you feel uneasy about dogs then eat inside, its as simple as that. For the person who brought up dog hair in food, you probably don't eat outside anyways. You are probably afraid of tree leafs, dust, car fumes, bugs, etc getting in your food anyways.

As for the senator, i hope that the restaurant washes your utensils after you eat, if they don't you might want to check that out

Outdoor restaurants already allow dogs outdoors. Have they been doing it illegally? Has there been any enforcement of the ban?

Unfortunately for Marylanders that our legislators can waist time on this. Can I assume that they will soon legislate that the dog can be the designated driver if the patron had one beer and the police are waiting outside to issue a DUI?

Unfortunately for Marylanders that our legislators can waist time on this. Can I assume that they will soon legislate that the dog can be the designated driver if the patron had one beer and the police are waiting outside to issue a DUI?
I plan to bypass these places.

I'm assuming the people who are upset about the dogs are not 'dog people.' If the dog isn't bothering you, I don't see the harm in having the dog present. As previously stated in another post, a poorly behaved dog can ruin a meal, just as easily as poorly behaved children.
Furthermore, anyone who bashes Baltimore obviously have not been to the city and are using judgement from watching The Wire too much. As for the Orioles- well... how them Red Sox doing?