Key fishing captain urges for doggy dining ordinance

Capt. Wayne Genthner fishes along the shores of Longboat Key almost seven days a week. But you won’t catch him dining much on Longboat Key.

That’s because the town of Longboat Key doesn’t currently have an ordinance that allows diners to officially bring their dogs to Key restaurants for a bite to eat with their masters.

And because Genthner, owner of Wolfmouth Charters, rarely fishes or dines without his wolf collie mix AbuJuju, 6, by his side, he leaves the Key for a late afternoon lunch either in downtown Sarasota or Bradenton Beach, which have ordinances allowing doggy dining.

In an Oct. 20 email to Mayor Jack Duncan, Genthner wrote “Longboat Key shouldn’t be missing out on this” and asked the town to implement a doggy dining ordinance.

In 2006, the Legislature authorized local municipalities and counties to decide if they want to create ordinances that allow dogs in restaurants. If the local municipality doesn’t have a doggy dining ordinance, it falls under state regulations, and dog dining is prohibited.

Longboat Key is the only municipality in the area that doesn’t have such an ordinance. Manatee and Sarasota counties enacted ordinances in 2007, and several municipalities followed suit in 2008.

Although several restaurants allow man’s best friend to accompany their guests, that doesn’t make the island pet-friendly for restaurants, and it doesn’t make dining with dogs legal.

“If you fall to the state, you can’t officially allow Fido into your restaurant,” Genthner said. 

The ordinances allow restaurants to purchase a permit that allows them to offer a separate area where dogs are welcome with their owners. The ordinances mandate hand sanitizer be available for patrons and staff. Restaurant staff also isn’t allowed to pet animals while working.

At the Bridge Tender Inn in Bradenton Beach Nov. 18 with AbuJuju, Genthner explains that his request isn’t just for him and his dog. When visitors ask him where they can eat lunch with their dogs, he’s disappointed when he has to send them off the Key.

“This island becomes a tough place for animals when it comes to accommodations and places to eat,” Genthner said. “Why send visitors off the Key just because their dog is with them?”

Duncan discussed the matter with Town Manager Dave Bullock in October, and Bullock said he plans to bring the matter before the Town Commission at a workshop in 2016.

“It just seems like a no-brainer we can resolve in time for season that might convince other Key restaurants to allow dogs,” Genthner said. “I would like to see Longboat Key bark less and wag a little more.”

“It just hasn’t reached the top of the priority list yet,” Bullock said. “But we’ll be gathering up the other local ordinances around us and coming before the commission next year.”