Dog owners on holiday usually have the problem of what to do with their beloved pet before entering the premises. In Italy, is it possible to enter a shop, supermarket, bar, restaurant, hotel… with pets?
In Italy there is no absolute prohibition to enter with pets the gastronomic establishments where food is prepared, that is bars, restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, etc..
In practice it is the responsibility of the owner of the establishment to maintain adequate hygiene, and it is his choice and what „hospitality policy” he adopts, whether he will accept us with a dog.It happens that in some municipalities, the local authorities restrict or, on the contrary, extend the rules on entry with a pet in public houses (e.g. in Turin).
Admittedly, there are more and more 'pet-friendly’ businesses in Italy, even launching dedicated advertising campaigns. One example, for example, is the chain of shops Despar, which for two years has been promoting the entry of four-legged dogs into the supermarket by offering them a special place in the shopping trolleys: „Porta con te il tuo amico con 4 zampe con questo carrello” (take your four-legged friend with you in this trolley). This is a real „revolution” for dog owners. Dozens of other supermarkets have followed their example. You can find a list of supermarket chains where dogs are accepted in each region at: www.portamiconte.info/al-supermercato-cane/
In Italy, it also happens that bans on four-legged animals in public offices are overturned, such as in the municipality of Genoa, where the assessor of culture allowed its officials to bring their pets to work. So don’t be surprised if you are greeted by doggies in the Palazzo Ducale when you visit!
