In our country, however, animals and food don’t mix. I know some cities and states are enacting different laws that may allow pets in some food establishments, but this one size fits all policy of not letting animals near food just doesn’t work. Obviously, restaurants and stores that cater to the general public should have a way to keep animals away, but a blanket policy prohibits things such as a cat café, and that’s a shame.
The intent of laws prohibiting animals from food establishments is to keep people safe, both from allergies and from animal-borne diseases. But shouldn’t there be a little leeway for just such things as a cat or pet café? As long as it is clearly marked that animals are within, businesses should be able to choose whether or not to allow animals. We have the right to choose where we shop, and a business should be able to respond to its customers’ wants.
While I don’t have limitations on the pets I can have, and probably wouldn’t frequent a cat café, I think it should be an option for people who are unable to have their own pets, and I wish the laws in every state had loopholes to allow for things like this.