Audio clip
Larry Zehnder
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Staff Photo by Margaret Fenton Karen and Ronnie Roach, and their goldendoodle, Bentley, are among a group of local dog owners intent on broadening the city's pet-friendly areas, including parks, outdoor restaurant seating and the Walnut Street bridge.
Dogs aren't allowed on the Walnut Street Bridge or in Chattanooga's other premier parks -- Coolidge, Ross's Landing and the Tennessee Riverpark.
But they can come to eat with their masters at the Blue Plate and several other restaurants downtown.
The city that has been blasted by dog lovers as being not-so-dog-friendly now has a number of restaurants that are ahead of the Tennessee General Assembly, which this week passed a bill authorizing municipalities with populations of at least 100,000 to allow restaurants to admit pet dogs into outdoor dining areas.
In part that's because of dog owners such as Karen and Ronnie Roach, whose golden retriever, Bentley, is a therapy dog that is welcomed into intensive care unit hospital rooms but not onto the Riverwalk.
"I'm so turned off to our antiquated rules and laws in Chattanooga," Ms. Roach said. "I don't understand how other cities all have all their parks open to dogs, but we cannot."
Rhonda Seeber, communications manager for the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department, said parks officials have been watching the bill progress through the Legislature. She said she is working with Ms. Roach, other downtown residents and dog owners on a committee to help educate dog owners and the public and, perhaps, get some of the now-restricted areas reopened to pets.
"I know that's a big, angry issue," Ms. Seeber said of the city's restrictions.
She also said the group is working on a brochure to help pet owners know where pet-friendly restaurants and parks are located. She said volunteers began calling this week to see which restaurants would like to be listed in the brochure.
Parks Administrator Larry Zehnder said city officials recently had a survey done by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga about pets in parks and public areas.
"They talked with 6,000 people, and 50 percent want dogs to be able to go where people go, and another 50 percent said no," Mr. Zehnder said.
DOGS WELCOME
Chattanooga restaurants at which dogs are welcome in outdoor dining areas:
* Blue Plate
* Big River Grille
* Hair of the Dog
* The Ice Cream Show
* 212 Market
* Stone Cup
* MudPie
* Terra Nostra
* Greenlife Grocery
* Food Works
* Aretha Frankensteins
* Pisa Pizza
* Clumpies Ice Cream
* Quiznos
* Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Source: Chattanooga Parks and Recreation
Pam Sohn has been reporting or editing Chattanooga news for 25 years. A Walden’s Ridge native, she began her journalism career with a 10-year stint at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. She came to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 1999 after working at the Chattanooga Times for 14 years. She has been a city editor, Sunday editor, wire editor, projects team leader and assistant lifestyle editor. As a reporter, she also has covered the police, ...
I'm a devoted pet owner myself, But I don't want to eat with it! They are going to let a dog into a public eating establishment and I can't smoke a cigar after a fine meal. I have read these bumper stickers that state, "My Dog is smarter than your honor student." Well, my honor student doesn't crap on the sidewalk. Humans are higher up on the food chain than a dog! The faster you realize that, The better off this world will be. If I have to dine with a dog at one of these restuarants, I will go some place else!( Take my money too!)
You are so full of crap! Any dog owner that brings his or her dog downtown is certainly going to pick up after their dog. I doubt seriously that you are a "devoted pet owner" or you would not make such stupid statements. It is about time that restaurants are wising up and realizing that this is a big market. Our dog travels with us and we go out of our way to find restaurants that have al fresco dining that allows dogs. Kudos to the Blue Plate and Big River. I will see you soon with my beloved dog!
Hey, now that I can carry and protect myself and mine from the killer-breed dogs [you know which ones] running around in those downtown restaurants, bridges, and parks, have at it.
If I see a dog dump in the park/eatery/pedestrian bridge, the owner gets a smelly surprise dumped in his/her lap...
Leave your mangy mutt at home and the "therapy dogs" with the sick people or in the car [too hot? Too bad. Go home.]
I am more than thrilled to know that this is happening. I am a (2) dog owner and believe me they go where ever we go-- on trips-- everywhere. Hats off to Blue Plate and Big River Hopefully more will come on board. And to the person that said you would not eat at a place with dogs outside-- SO long--eat elsewhere--Dogs are people too-- just furry!!!
Respectfully, pet lovers don't refer to their pets as "it", oddjob. Pet lovers know how to be responsible and are able to take well-behaved dogs on outings and frequent favorite hang outs with ease and great care. We true pet lovers enjoy time spent around downtown with our kids and our dogs together--while striving to keep to respect others. Our city is growing beautifully and growing means change. Many of us that have moved to downtown from elsewhere and made Chattanooga our HOME and our futures- we have invested a lot of money for housing (which has expanded the tax base immensely helping our city even more). Along with our home purchases/investments downtown, we have moved our young families and pets--pets which also require a lot of exercise (along with their owners) , companionship and socialization. Residents moving downtown means more people that will require more area to interact and walk their dogs. We must learn how to coexist with each other-humans, animals, earth, cars, bikes, etc... like so many other pet friendly cities in the U.S. There is much to tolerate when "SHARING" our beautiful downtown areas. There are times I wish the OCCASIONAL parent would better monitor children, as well as, I sometimes wish the PERIODIC disruptive teenagers would respect being in a shared environment when yelling profanities. Acceptance is what I give and I expect the same toward me. My dog, lying on the floor of a restaurant at MY table would not infringe on your meal. Chattanooga is not the first city to accept well bahaved pets in restaurants. Pets are not considered a health issue--Cigars, however, are now considered a health problem unfortunately for you, oddjob. I agree that pet clean up is a requirement, Rolando. You do what you find necessary for the inconsiderate pet owners you come across, as for me-allow me and my family, which includes a dog- peace. The dog opposers don't expect any more than we true pet lover's expect. I expect dirty diapers to make it to the trash cans that I occasionally see on the Walnut Street Bridge as well as, the Pigeon droppings all around. I expect to feel safe when there are safety concerns on occasion-no matter what the city. And don't worry restaurant/shop/bar owners, we pet lovers will spend, spend, spend in your establishments now more than ever. And we will tip really well, too because so often kind servers bring water to all our table guests--even to our guests underneath the table! Chattanooga will grow up to become known as the scenic city that is bike friendly, kid friendly, pet friendly, commuter friendly and environmentally conscious. What a great place in which we live!
It is about time Chattanooga became a dog friendly city. I applaud the advances we are making! In addition we should provide materials to help conscientious dog owners clean up after their four legged family member in the event they have not planned well and brought their own or have run out.
Dogs freely attend NightFall w/out obvious problems w/ behavior or hygeine problems.
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