Irish pet owners are calling for pubs, cafes and hotels across the country to become more welcoming to four-legged visitors, with a new survey revealing that 86% want greater access for their pets.
The findings come almost nine years after regulations were changed to allow individual hospitality businesses to decide whether domestic animals could enter restaurants, cafes and bars.
The survey, conducted by Petinsurance.ie, suggests there is a growing appetite among owners for Ireland to become a more pet-friendly country.
It follows recent proposals from the National Transport Authority to make it easier for people to bring pets on public transport.
Many respondents said they continue to encounter difficulties when trying to bring their animals to hospitality venues.
One described Ireland as lacking in pet-friendly restaurants and cafes, while another said the country had a long way to go compared with other parts of Europe.
A third respondent commented that Ireland was not as accommodating to pets as many other countries.
Andrew Simpson, Head of Pet at Petinsurance.ie, said pets were an important part of family life, with owners increasingly keen to include them in everyday activities, social outings and holidays.
He said recent developments could create more opportunities for people to bring their pets along when going out.
However, he also stressed the importance of being prepared for unexpected illness or injury, particularly as pets accompany their owners on more outings and adventures.
He said having pet insurance could provide owners with additional peace of mind should something go wrong.
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