Catherine Coll remembers a time when Santa Fe establishments welcomed canines with open arms.

Restaurants happily hosted dog birthday parties, and groups of friends would meet for food and drinks at some of the best locales, their furry friends at their sides, lapping up the attention.

And then a subtle change happened over the years, said Coll, the wife of former state Rep. Max Coll. The canine welcome mat was pulled up and dogs were no longer a part of the social scene. Restaurants began taping signs to their windows, banning dogs from the premises.

Once dog-friendly Santa Fe appeared to be a thing of the past.

But Coll and a growing group of supporters are hoping to turn the tide. Senate Bill 11, introduced by Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, would allow pet dogs in designated outdoor dining areas of food-service establishments that follow specific guidelines.

Wirth, who prefiled the legislation on Dec. 15, said Coll and fellow canine-lover Linda Kastner approached him about the issue, and he agreed to sponsor the bill. "It's definitely constituent-driven," he said.

While it's unclear exactly what prompted enforcement of state regulations prohibiting dogs from food-service establishments in recent years, the legislation should help clarify the issue, he said. The Legislature convenes Jan. 18.

Albuquerque, which has its own environment department that regulates health and sanitation, embraces canines in designated areas of restaurants. Santa Fe and other communities follow state regulations, which are much more stringent.

State Environment Department officials in interviews have cited national codes about pets in food establishments. Research has shown that dogs can carry diseases that pose a risk around food, officials said, and that's why pets should not be where food is prepared or served.

The proposed legislation wouldn't allow pets in any area where food is prepared and requires animals to be on leashes and off chairs and tables. The bill also requires employees to wash their hands after touching, petting or handling dogs. Accidents involving pet waste must be cleaned immediately and the area sanitized.

"Certainly I'm mindful of health considerations with food and animals, but it's a fact that it's working well in Albuquerque," Wirth said.

The legislation would allow restaurants the choice of allowing dogs or not. Restaurants would have the right to refuse to serve the owner of a dog if the owner can't keep the animal under control.

"If dogs are unruly, they can be asked to leave, just like with people," Kastner said.

Kastner, who works at Santa Fe Tails Dog Academy and Daycare, said the issue also is about quality of life for humans and their canine companions. "I'd love to walk to a restaurant, but wouldn't do it by myself at night," she said. "But I would if I had my dog with me. For dogs, it's important that they are socialized and for people to see that they can be well-behaved in public."

Kastner and Coll have been visiting restaurants to ask for their support for the legislation. So far, at least eight restaurants have signed on.

While some restaurants might not want dogs around patrons, others are sure to capitalize on the novelty. It's a draw for many Albuquerque businesses, Kastner and Wirth said.

"The truth is, these are tough times," Wirth said, "and for some people, animals are a part of their family. There are folks who like to do everything with their animals and this could help restaurants and other businesses."

Chuck Higgins, a chocolatier who owns and operates C.G. Higgins Confections on Niñita Street off St. Francis Drive, is one of the few business owners outside of Albuquerque who was able to secure a variance from the Environment Department to allow dogs in certain areas of his shop.

Higgins, a frequent traveler to Europe where dogs are routinely allowed in restaurants and bars, said he could never understand the phobia regarding dogs in places where food is served. When he approached the state agency for a variance, though, it was initially denied. But after he requested a hearing, both sides were able to outline their concerns and reach a compromise. The variance was approved in April.

A follow-up inspection was positive, and he's had no complaints about the canine presence. Higgins said he expected more people to bring their animals with them, but attributes it to the lack of acceptance in other businesses.

"It's been light," he said. "But I think it's because people don't bring their dog into town when they want to go to the beauty shop or gym."

Higgins supports the legislative effort. He's heard positive comments from city officials about people being allowed to bring their animals with them instead of leaving them in vehicles, where they could be stolen and are exposed to the elements.

Wirth, who has supported animal-welfare legislation in the past, said he's been somewhat taken back by the response. A fellow attorney last week at the courthouse joked that Wirth had "the dog vote."

"This is my animal bill for the year," he said.