The seemingly low-stakes question of whether Chicago restaurants should be free to let patrons bring their dogs has got folks surprisingly engaged.

Sparking the back and forth is a measure proposed by 43rd Ward Ald. Timothy Knudsen that would allow eateries to serve customers accompanied by man’s best friend. City law currently bars dogs from restaurants other than at outdoor patios, and only then if the restaurant permits.

This has led to various absurdities. At Cody’s Public House, a West Lakeview bar that prides itself on being Chicago’s dog-friendliest tavern, no food can be served since dogs lounge lugubriously therein. But if you want to order Uber Eats with an additional entree for your dog, no problem. That’s crazy. Cody’s should be able to serve a slice of pizza without the Republic falling down around our heels and paws.

Frankly, given other priorities for Chicago police, the city law largely goes unenforced anyway. That is, unless a cranky customer complains and then the “scofflaw” restaurants sometimes have to deal with city inspectors. And most of us who’ve lived in Chicago for any amount of time know what a hassle a visit from city inspectors can be.

Knudsen said he decided to tackle the issue after the owner of a Lincoln Park bakery told him of hours spent with inspectors on the day before Valentine’s Day — one of the busiest of the year for her — after someone complained about dogs in the store as the pets’ owners waited for their baked goods. “We are losing customers if we say ‘no dogs,’” she told the Tribune.

So Knudsen’s proposed solution — allowing restaurants and other food establishments to opt in as dog-friendly so long as they observe common-sense rules such as requiring customers to keep their pooches on leash — seems to us a no-brainer. Restaurants, which are having a hard enough time surviving in Chicago for reasons we’ve laid out in the past, should be given the flexibility to market themselves creatively and cater to their clientele. If those are dog owners who might come in to eat more often if they can bring their furry plus-ones, so be it.

Those who don’t want to dig into their entree while a dog is sitting nearby surely can patronize an alternative clean, well-lit place catering to their desires. That’s how the market works. The invisible hand usually sorts out these sorts of disputes pretty efficiently.

And we’re always in favor of pruning the city’s code of needless prohibitions that essentially are unenforceable. Some of us weren’t even aware before Knudsen raised the issue that city law bars restaurants and bars from allowing dogs inside other than service animals. Perhaps that’s because it’s a relatively common occurrence. We assumed it was OK. It should be, at the discretion of the proprietor.

All of the above being said, this is a big city and not all dog owners are equally responsible. It’s no fun to eat and/or drink near a table where the dog is out of control or barking. Not everyone thinks your mutt is as adorable as you do.

So common sense is in order, please, Chicagoans. And you too, pooches. We’re going out on a limb here for you.

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