Dogs in pubs: More than half of Australians don’t want pets to be allowed in pubs, according to exclusive Nine poll

More than half of Australians believe dogs shouldn’t be allowed in pubs despite recent pushes in some communities to open up more venues to furry visitors.

An exclusive nine.com.au poll that asked if rules should be relaxed around allowing dogs in pubs found that only 26 per cent of responders agreed dogs should be allowed in.

A staggering 60 per cent said dogs should not be allowed in at all, while just 14 per cent were unsure where they fell on the issue.

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Dogs in pubs have been a hot button topic lately, with some Australian venues happily opening their doors to four-legged patrons while others maintain outright bans on dogs unless they meet certain exemptions (e.g. service dogs).

Under the current Australian Food Standards Code and various state government legislation, it’s up to businesses to decide if they want to allow dogs in outdoor dining areas – but indoor dining areas and kitchens are off-limits.

But in some areas, dog owners have started campaigning to loosen these restrictions.

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Councillors Jessica Keen and Efi Carr recently proposed a Notice of Motion to North Sydney Council recommending that Council Rangers be more lenient on dogs in local venues.

“It’d be nice to be able to walk into a the back of a pub and be able to sit outside and just have a drink and have enjoy it with my dogs,” Keen told 2GB this week.

She explained that she wants businesses to be able to decide for themselves if they want to allow dogs inside, rather than having council enforce state and federal legislation.

It would also be up to businesses to eject patrons whose dogs caused disruptions.

WATCH: Should dogs be allowed in pubs? North Sydney Councillor Jessica Keen thinks so 

But nine.com.au’s poll revealed that not everyone is on-board with welcoming pooches into pubs, with many respondents saying only service dogs should be allowed in.

“I’m sick of seeing dogs in Bunnings, so definitely no to pubs,” one wrote.

Others said that allowing dogs in pubs could create Occupational Health and Safety and food safety risks.

Several pointed out that dog allergies are common and that some people aren’t comfortable around dogs, therefore wouldn’t want to share space with them inside a pub.

However, some said they’d be OK with dogs being allowed into outdoor areas like beer gardens provided they’re well behaved and on a leash.

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“I think well behaved dogs should be allowed in pubs, but maybe in special areas so people who aren’t dog lovers don’t have to have them too close,” said one.

Another wrote, “If there is a beer garden where one can sit and eat with the dog by your side no problem.

“We travel with a dog and being able to eat lunch at a pub beer garden in any town was a great stop.”

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