Comments on: Keep Coffee Labs of Tarrytown NY Pet-Friendly…

By: Ruthmarie Hicks

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:54:16 +0000

Hi Andrea,
It’s good to know that you are working on it. And I thank you for clearing up the facts for us. I came up with the complaint because that’s what I was initially told.

I understand that rules are rules, but I also agree with others who feel that Coffee Labs has made a place for itself in the community and that in Europe this wouldn’t even BE an issue- yet you don’t hear of people dying of food poisoning because dogs were allowed in a cafe. Only in America do we go to such extremes.

By: Andrea Castro

Andrea Castro — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:40:28 +0000

Just to clear up a few things. I’m the lawyer working with Coffee Labs to try and obtain permission from the DOH to allow dogs to continue to be admitted to Coffee Labs. To clarify, no customers or other entities complained. Instead, a coffee shop in Rockland County seeking permission to allow dogs brought the dog presence @ Coffee Labs to the attention of their Health Dept. contact resulting in the current situation. There are provisions in the Code for exceptions & this one is already considered very low risk. So fingers crossed that we can show some compelling reasons that what the owners do while not meeting the letter of the law, meet the intentions. I agree with Pete G that regulations will rule the day & there is no established formula to obtain the variance. But I think we have a decent set of facts on our side & , while by no means guaranteed, a shot at moving some mountains.

By: Fran Strutt

Fran Strutt — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:52:23 +0000

Of course you’re right about this being a legal and bureaucratic dilemma. And these very laws you’re discussing are there to keep us all safe and healthy. However, this situation with this particular issue seems to make our lives a bit less pleasurable. Other countries find a way to accommodate people and their pets apparently without sacrificing health and safety…Good luck to Coffee Labs. I hope they do try to fight city hall.

By: Pete G

Pete G — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:33:41 +0000

Too bad this isn’t a matter of opinion and feeling, because if it was, the overwhelming response would be that the owners would be able to continue operating their dog friendly enterprise.

It’s really a legal and bureaucratic dilemma. Coffee Labs is , in fact, violating the State and County health code. Obviously one or more complaints have been made to motivate the Health department to stop “looking the other way” regarding this issue. So, the real problem is how does one “appeal” such a decision once a complaint is made. It is not easy to figure out the mechanism for appealing Health Code violations or gaining a variance. If that is even possible, it’s not public opinion that drives it but legal representation and precedents. It may be best for the owners to be thankful that they’ve had a good run of building their business while this issue has gone unnoticed by the authorities and to just continue serving their great coffee in a code compliant facility. Ultimately, only they can decide how much time and effort they want to spend “fighting city hall”.

By: Fran Strutt

Fran Strutt — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:11:25 +0000

I agree with Paula. This is a very small local coffee shop. It doesn’t distribute large quantities of food out to the general public. If someone has a problem with this type of dog friendly business, they can simply choose not to go there…..

By: Paula Piekos

Paula Piekos — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:58:47 +0000

I think it’s great to have a dog-friendly business and think it should be legal as long as it’s posted so that people who think the idea of dogs being around food is wrong can avoid the place. If the people who feel like that know ahead of time to not enter, then they shouldn’t be bothered by it’s existence.
I once ran into a situation like this with a restaurant I loved in Rhode Island. They had a resident cat, which was overlooked for many years until a customer complained about allergies. It went to the lawyers and the place had to get rid of the cat based on the fact that the local Rotary Club met there monthly and the lady would have been put in a position where she couldn’t participate in that local civic enterprise, also limiting her ability to make and keep business connections. The end result was that the cat could stay if the Rotary Club didn’t meet there.
Because this place is so small that I don’t think public or civic groups hold meetings there, this should be viewed as, well you now dogs are in there, so if you view them as being too germy to eat food around, then don’t go. It’s a coffee shop and I’m sure you can find a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks somewhere around the area.
I think the Board of Health should let them keep the dog-friendly vibe as long as the presence of dogs is posted on the door and as long as no public/civic groups hold meetings there.
Otherwise, if you don’t like a place, don’t go to it. Stop being a party pooper!

By: Paula Piekos

Paula Piekos — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:55:42 +0000

I think it’s great to have a dog-friendly business and think it should be legal as long as it’s posted so that people who think the idea of dogs being around food can avoid the place. If the people who feel like that know ahead of time to not enter, then they shouldn’t be bothered by it’s existence.
I once ran into a situation like this with a restaurant I loved in Rhode Island. They had a resident cat, which was overlooked for many years until a customer complained about allergies. It went to the lawyers and the place had to get rid of the cat based on the fact that the local Rotary Club met there monthly and the lady would have been put in a position where she couldn’t participate in that local civic enterprise, also limiting her ability to make and keep business connections. The end result was that the cat could stay if the Rotary Club didn’t meet there.
Because this place is so small that I don’t think public or civic groups hold meetings there, this should be viewed as, well you now dogs are in there, so if you view them as being too germy to eat food around, then don’t go. It’s a coffee shop and I’m sure you can find a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks somewhere around the area.
I think the Board of Health should let them keep the dog-friendly vibe as long as the presence of dogs is posted on the door and as long as no public/civic groups hold meetings there.
Otherwise, if you don’t like a place, don’t go to it. Stop being a party pooper!

By: Roger Swift

Roger Swift — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:22:19 +0000

Also, they actually DO prepare food on site. The coffee roasting machine is in the middle of the seating area, and they roast and package not only for their own needs, but for restaurants and store all over the region.

By: Pete G

Pete G — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:47:22 +0000

I do think Coffee labs is a great place with fantastic coffee,however they have been skirting the “no dogs” in food service establishments issue for 7 years. It’s surprising that a complaint hasn’t been made before this. Their contention that they don’t prepare foods on-site thereby exempting them from the regulation is disingenuous. Food is sold for consumption, and that alone makes it a food establishment, requiring the exclusion of pets. The owners statement that they had an “arrangement” is interesting. I wonder how one makes such an arrangement, was it in writing? I support people’s right to run a business as they like within the existing legal structure and health code…and even to seek an exemption if that’s possible. Since the code that’s being enforced by the county is a State law as well as a Federal regulation a waiver may be difficult to come by. good luck to all who have enjoyed Coffee Labs great coffee and canine community…could be a tough battle.