Dogs and outdoor dining in Chicago don't mix … at least not legally. Chicago Public Radio's Shawn Allee reports on one effort to change that.

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Strictly speaking, you shouldn't have to stare down a dog who's sitting next to you at a restaurant. Chicago's health department can fine owners if they take pooch onto the patio or sidewalk dining area. But Alderman Gene Schulter thinks that's unfair.

He says some North Side restaraunts already welcome dogs,  pet owners just want it to be legit. 

Schulter: They want to have this passed yesterday. People still take their dogs to these outdoor cafes and I don't see anything wrong with it, quite frankly.

Chicago can't make outdoor dog dining a reality on its own, though. Illinois health laws prohibit it, though lawmakers passed a measure to overturn them.

The governor hasn't signed the dog-dining bill, but is expected to do so by mid-August. Chicago's city council could take action after that.

I'm Shawn Allee. Chicago Public Radio.