Will Tampa ruling affect the St. Pete Dog Bar?

Pups Pub, a dog-friendly Tampa bar, was forced to close June 7 after the Florida Department of Health decided to reverse a decision about allowing non-service animals inside drinking establishments. 

Owners Alex Wright and wife Sheila Suhar received approval from the Department of Health to open the bar under the condition that no food would be served. 

The location proved to be successful and led to another Pups Pub in Orlando (which closed this April for other reasons). 

During inspections of the two Pups Pubs, Wright and Suhar were told that the Department of Health decided to reevaluate the decision to let animals inside of bars and that their business was in violation of state hygiene codes. 

The Department decided that beverages and ice are now considered part of the “food” category.  

This led to a court battle in 2023. Judge Lynne Quimby-Pennock argued that the Department reinterpreted the rule unfairly because they had already approved Pups Pub. 

Quimby-Pennock’s decision was brought to an appeals court, which supported the Department of Health. The judges involved in the case stated that the Department’s interpretation was justified based on state law.

What does all this mean for St. Petersburg’s The Dog Bar? 

Fred Metzler, founder and owner, is optimistic. 

“We know it doesn’t change anything for us,” he said. “I think the big differential is that they were certified and inspected by the Department of Health, whereas we are a restaurant so we are certified and inspected by the Division of Professional Regulation.” 

Pups Pub’s closure, Metzler believes, was because the owners allowed dogs off leash inside, even though this was approved by the Department of Health initially. 

At The Dog Bar, dogs must remain on a leash at all times unless they are in one of the bar’s two leash-free spaces. There is a City-zoned dog park outside on the property, where the animals can play without being leashed. 

The dog park and bar are zoned separately, Metzler explained. 

“The City was very helpful because they liked the idea, and that was just one of the hurdles in order to ensure that we would be up to snuff.” 

Many dog bars require dogs to be on leashes inside, he said. 

“It feels, at least to most of us, kinda unfair that they were approved and then sort of had the rug pulled up from underneath them,” Metzler added. 

As of now, The Dog Bar is monitoring the situation but believes it will be able to operate as usual. 

“I mean, we’re all, obviously you gotta be a little bit nervous, but we’re all making sure that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and will continue to do so,” he said. 

The Dog Bar does not serve food, but has food trucks on the property.