Some residents of Victoria are expressing their outrage over attempts to have a small dog removed from his long-time place at a downtown business, a bookstore-coffee shop.

Bubba, a five-year-old Jack Russell terrier, is kept on a leash behind the counter on the bookstore side.

Bubba has been going to the bookstore for the past three years.
(CBC)

There is an open area between the two businesses, and that's the problem according to the Vancouver Island Health Authority. The law says no animals in eating establishments.

Bubba's owner, James Hitchen, maintains the bookstore isn't an eating establishment and says there is little common area. "One breezeway at the front and one pass-through here, and beyond that my fire exit, and the inspector doesn't like any of those," he said. 

"It's separate strata titles, separate business licences, separate taxes, a separate wall dividing the two properties."

But the health authority disagrees. It says while the bookstore has its own address and the coffee shop has its own address there's really no physical separation.

Many Victorians appear to be on Hitchen's side, as letters to the editor attest:

• "Put a sign on the door: Warning — Jack Russell terrier and bagels in the same general area."
• "There are areas of our hospitals I would be reluctant to bring Bubba into!"
• "Actually, maybe Bubba just needs to go to the vet and be neutered. How much more 'sterile' can you get?"

The city's bylaw inspector has ordered Hitchen to get his dog out of the store or put up a solid wall, totally separating the two businesses — otherwise he'll lose both business licences.

On Monday, Hitchen left Bubba at home. On Tuesday, he took him to work, but left him out in the car in front of the store.