GEORGE NEWS - A ban placed on dogs in the food court of the Outeniqua Family Market has come as a big disappointment for many dog owners who regularly visit the market with their furry friends.

The food court is the heart of the market and this is where visitors spend most of their time relaxing with a takeaway meal or coffee. 

It would be senseless for dog owners to bring their pets along if they cannot spend their time together here. As a result of this, the market is losing visitors, says market owner Deon Mocke.

"In the more than 10 years of the market's existence, the presence of dogs in the food court has never been an issue - save for two years ago when there was talk of prohibiting them, but nothing came of it. 

"We have never received a complaint about the dogs, but we have to comply with the regulation. We have put up notice boards to indicate where dogs are not allowed."

Why the prohibition only now?

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM)'s head of communications Herman Pieters says the municipality is only implementing a national regulation pertaining to hygiene standards for food premises (Regulation 638 of June 2018) which was promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act (Act 54 of 1972). Under this legislation, no restaurant or food court can proclaim itself a "dog friendly" restaurant.

The Act dictates that a person in charge of food premises must ensure that "an animal, subject to the provisions of any law, is not kept or permitted in a room or area where food is handled ...".

 It does make provision for a guide or service dog to accompany a person with a disability in the sales or serving area of the food premises.

Pieters says owners/managers of food premises have been aware of the legislation as notices have been distributed by the GRDM in the past.

Notice boards have been put up at the entrances to the food court. The market owner, Deon Mocke, says they have always had a good relationship with GRDM.

Disagree with interpretation of legislation

A stallholder who wants to remain anonymous disagrees with the interpretation of the legislation. She says the dogs at the market do not enter an area where food is handled.

"The regulation does not refer to 'consumed'. These are the regulations pertaining to stallholders, or food providers, not the customers. 

"Once the food is passed over the counter by the stallholder, it is not 'handled' by them anymore. The regulation does not state that no animals are allowed where food is 'consumed'."

In response to this, Pieters says the local district authorities will be scrutinising the legislation as numerous queries and comments have been submitted by the public and the business sector relating to the interpretation and ultimate implementation of this particular section of the legislation.

Key tourist and entertainment attraction

An upset supporter of the market, Donald Goldfain, says it is one of George's key local and tourist entertainment events on a Saturday and provides many of the stallholders' main income. 

"It is one of the best things that has happened to George over the last ten years in terms of stuff for people to do over the weekend. The GRDM mayor always stresses the importance of creating opportunities in the economy, but this ban is the direct opposite of what that stance wants to achieve."

An anonymous visitor says the ban is nonsensical. "It is an open-air market, so what about the bird droppings and creeping insects that probably abound in the soil? 

"The dogs did not go into the stalls where food is prepared, they remained in the public area. 

"What is important is that stallholders maintain proper hygiene where they prep food. It is upsetting to see how dog-friendly areas are becoming a scarce commodity in our area; beaches and pet-friendly rental accommodation included."

Steve Botes, a Capetonian who visited the market with his Alsatian on Saturday, thinks the ban could be viewed as fair as not all people necessarily approve of having dogs around where they eat. 

"But it should not be a problem bringing dogs along, as long as the dog is well-behaved and does not intrude upon other people's space."

Capetonian Steve Botes and his Alsatian were at the market on Saturday. Photos: Alida de Beer

An element is lacking at Outeniqua Family Market these days.

The areas around the food court are open to dogs and handy plastic bags are available.

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