Tagaytay restaurant Balay Dako issued a public apology on Monday following online backlash over an incident where an asong Pinoy or aspin was denied entry, despite the establishment promoting itself as “pet-friendly.”
The controversy began when a lengthy Facebook post shared by Lara Antonio went viral, describing how her dog, Yoda, an aspin, was not allowed inside the restaurant because of the dog’s size and alleged breed.
Antonio explained that despite previously dining there with Yoda without issues, they were turned away at the time, allegedly because Yoda exceeded the restaurant’s weight limit of 15kg for dogs.
However, she pointed out that larger breeds like Labradors had been allowed, calling the rule arbitrary and discriminatory against aspins.
“I have a weird gut feeling immediately, so instead of Aspin, I [said] ‘mixed breed’. I’ve dealt with this before. I know this, and as annoying as it is, ‘mixed breed’ is more palatable to elitist establishments like Balay Dako,” Lara shared.
She further questioned the lack of clear guidelines on the restaurant’s website and criticized their inconsistent pet policy.
The incident quickly garnered attention online, with many netizens voicing concerns about breed-specific restrictions and emphasizing the importance of treating all dogs equally, regardless of size or breed.
In response, Balay Dako released an official statement on Monday, addressing the issue.
“We sincerely apologize for the recent misunderstanding regarding our pet policy. As a company that loves animals, we understand the importance of accommodating pets. However, we must also consider factors such as spacing and the safety of all our guests.
“We are currently reviewing our policy to ensure it is clear, fair, and balances the needs of both pet owners and non-pet owners,” the statement read.
Balay Dako’s management assured customers they are taking steps to refine their pet policy to prevent similar incidents in the future, promising a more “inclusive” approach for pet owners visiting the establishment.
As of now, the restaurant has yet to announce any specific changes to its policies but stated that updates would be forthcoming as part of their ongoing review.
