TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — This weekend, Pups Pub in Tampa will be shutting down after they lost a legal dispute with the state regarding their indoor dog-friendly policy.
The business, which allows dogs to roam freely both inside and outside its premises, initially won a lawsuit in 2023 that permitted non-service animals indoors. But the Florida Department of Health appealed the decision and won.
A state court ultimately ruled that the Department of Health has the authority to prohibit non-service animals inside any food service business, effectively banning the indoor-outdoor dog bar model.
“To use the term divide and conquer, they picked one entity,” attorney Gary De Pury, at De Pury Law told News Channel 8. “They went through the entire legal battle in order to create all the legal precedents. And now they can pick five, six, eight, ten at a time and start shutting them all down by saying, okay, we don’t like what you’re doing.”
While other dog bars in places like St. Petersburg remain open for now, legal experts said they could face similar scrutiny if the health department decides to expand enforcement.
“Until the health department comes in their establishment [and says], okay, here’s the new ordinance and you have to shut it down,” the attorney added. “And as you know, laws change every single day in Florida.”
In a Facebook post announcing the abrupt closure, the owners of Pups Pub wrote:
“Despite previously winning our case in 2023, the Department of Health appealed and ultimately reversed the ruling. We are heartbroken to announce we will be closing our doors this Saturday.”
The decision has left loyal patrons and pet lovers disappointed.
“With any neighborhood bar, everybody kind of knows their name and their dogs,” one visitor said. “I think it’s kind of a travesty. I feel very sorry for the patrons and the business owner.”
Pups Pub’s final day of operation is set for Saturday.
