A barbecue restaurant in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, has disposed of its utensils and carried out a full disinfection after a customer allowed his pet dog to eat directly from barbecue skewers before placing the saliva-covered sticks back on a shared dining table.
The incident, which occurred on July 15 in Salaqi Town, sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media after witnesses said the man ignored the reactions of other diners.
According to reports, the customer allowed the dog to sit on a chair and eat grilled meat straight from the skewers. Afterward, he allegedly placed the used skewers back onto the communal table instead of disposing of them.
Responding to the incident on Wednesday, restaurant staff said all affected utensils and barbecue skewers had been destroyed, while the remaining tableware in the restaurant had undergone comprehensive cleaning and disinfection.
The restaurant also revealed that pets are strictly prohibited inside the premises. However, the customer insisted on dining in the outdoor seating area, claiming he would “eat one bite and leave”.
Staff said they were unable to stop the customer after he refused to comply, and the incident is now drawing renewed attention to hygiene standards and responsible pet ownership in public dining spaces.
