If Queensland is the Florida of Australia, the Gold Coast aspires to be Miami’s South Beach but often drifts into Pensecola territory.

A more accurate estimation may be Sarasota and, like there, the Gold Coast is set to approve doggie dining.

Florida authorized local governments to create doggie dining in 2006, and Sarasota and Manatee counties enacted ordinances in 2007.

 Since then, the concept has taken off in Sarasota, where no major problems have been reported.



Rules require hand sanitizer to be available for patrons, and restaurant staff are prohibited from touching the pets while working. Any accidents must be promptly cleaned up. 

This seems entirely sensible, as long as the rules are followed and yahoos kept to a minimum.

The Courier Mail reports Gold Coast City Council has voted in support of allowing pet pooches in alfresco eateries.

Mayor Tom Tate said the council had voted to support proposed changes by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) giving cafe and restaurant owners discretion to allow companion dogs in outdoor dining areas.

"While the decision to adopt amended food standards is ultimately the decision of the State Government, Council voted to make a submission to FSANZ to outline its support for the rights of food business owners to choose whether they wish to allow dogs,” Cr Tate said.