Animal lovers are among the sweetest individuals out there, and they are even more exceptional among Filipinos, who provide for the needs of their pets despite the inflation and other economic challenges. The commitment they show in taking care of their pets as if they were their own children or best friends makes it challenging to judge their sometimes excessive or unreasonable actions for the sake of the comfort of their fur babies
However, where does one draw the line, and when is the right time to speak up about your ‘discomfort’ when encountering entitled pet owners?
The topic arose when a self-proclaimed pet lover and restaurant owner posted a general reminder on popular dog lover group on Facebook, “Who’s Your Pupper?,” in which the OP addressed pet owners, urging them to respect the strict pet rules of establishments. With hundreds of reactions, the post has received generally positive feedback, with some sharing their experiences of encountering pet owners whose pets engaged in activities they would describe as inappropriate or disturbing for the public area they were in.
One user also shared his experience where he encountered a pet owner who dined in with their dog.
“Thanks for speaking up about this. The worst I encountered in a restaurant was letting their dog step on top of the table, and worst using the restaurant’s utensils in feeding the dog. Made me cringe so bad,” the social media user commented.
Of course, they did not like the sight of this, as it is a common practice that animals should not sit on the table, let alone use human utensils that would come into contact with their mouths.
As much as we love our pets and treat them as our children, similar to a human baby, there is still a boundary to set as they are of different species. Take time to consider people who have allergies to animals; the fact that pets can enter a restaurant is already something to ponder. We don’t like our chef’s hair on our food, much less an animal’s hair as they roll and lie down on the floor.
This is just one example of pet lovers engaging in inappropriate activities with their pets. Many other types of establishments could benefit from having stricter pet rules to prevent making other customers feel uncomfortable and putting people with allergies at risk.
So for pet owners–consider the place you will go to and the rules they follow. Understand that this does not mean that you are not welcome or that your pet is not treated equally; sometimes we just have to use our common sense.
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