It's illegal to dine with your dog at Houston restaurants but now, a councilmember wants to change that.

KHOU

Dog decorations are the only canine company customers will see at Barnaby's.

Along with the food and the drinks and the friendly service, Barnaby's restaurant offers a colorful decor: A dog in the desert; a dog in the snow; a dog in the jungle.

"The dog is the owner's dog -- childhood pet," explained Karen Fitzgerald, restaurant manager.

But you will no longer see the real deal.

"A couple of weeks ago, we got ticketed and fined for it. And it's against the law," said Fitzgerald.

Outside , a new sign warns patrons to stop bringing their pups to a restaurant that's very name seems to invite canine company.

Barnaby's is not alone. A lot of Houston dining places welcome dogs. In fact, some of them even advertise themselves as dog friendly even though, in general, that's a violation of city ordinances.

Houston's health ordinances specify the only live animals allowed in restaurants: Fish; patrol dogs accompanied by officers; and dogs for the disabled.

But in a city that's accomodating dogs with special taxpayer-funded parks, at least one city councilmember thinks the rule against dogs in dining areas needs to change.

"I think we ought to let the free market work," said Councilmember Michael Berry. "If a restaurant wants to allow -- in their outdoor patio -- dogs to be out there, as long as they post a sign that says, 'Hey, there are going to be dogs out here,' what's wrong with that?"

But for now, the only dogs at Barnaby's decorate the walls.