Ruff stuff – Will Café Bones receive a new leash on life?
A Leichhardt icon it may be – but Café Bones is still small enough to pass below the State Government’s political radar, with a new Bill threatening the future of the popular local landmark.
For the decade-old café, located parkside at Hawthorne Canal Reserve, there are three main points of contention with the current draft legislation. According to owners Chaka Khashayar and Michael Lloyd-Jones, the first of these is that all visitors to Café Bones would be required to have their dogs on-leash and on the ground at all times.
“The original Bill that was put together by the Liberal Party actually did give off-leash areas an exemption,” Khashayar said. “[But] because we’re the only one of our kind to have a café with dogs off-leash, it doesn’t register on the radar. I don’t think anyone went out of their way to mess with us, I just think it’s something no-one thought of.”
“[The original draft] basically said, ‘Dogs are welcome in outdoor dining areas, cafés and restaurants on-lead only, with the exception of off-leash dog parks. That would have been ideal,” Lloyd-Jones said.
“The rules we place on ourselves are actually far more harsh than the government would,” he added. “We have never let dogs on tables; we don’t let dogs that are food-aggressive have anything at all; and we would certainly never dream of feeding meals to dogs. Treats and Pupaccinos – that’s it.”
The owners also say that in its current form, the legislation prohibits owners from picking up a small dog off the ground to diffuse a “potentially threatening situation”.
Greens MLC Sylvia Hale expressed concern at the current draft of the Bill. “The intent of the Bill is commendable, but as currently drafted it would have unintended impacts on activities such as Café Bones,” she said. “I hope we are able to reach an agreement with the Government to amend the Bill so that the very many patrons of Café Bones, myself included, can continue to fully enjoy the off-leash area in which people and their human and canine companions can relax together.”
Meanwhile, Café Bones’ loyal customers have come out in strong support of their community, with nearly a thousand signatures on the petition at the time of writing. Vice-President of Leichhardt Dog Training Club, Kim Sinclair-Ivey, described the situation as ludicrous. “It’s an extremely strong community and we support the café absolutely – we just don’t see the legislation for an off-leash dog café being the same as for a Balmain café,” she said.
Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry described Café Bones as a “unique and well-loved part” of the Leichhardt community. “Every possible avenue will be explored in the interest of Café Bones continuing to operate,” she said.
The legislation is due to go before the state’s Upper House on June 1.
