Viral Beijing clip shows dog eating from plates; Restaurant shuts, offers refunds and compensation
A Beijing hotpot restaurant has suspended operations and offered refunds with compensation to customers after a woman shared a video of her pet dog jumping onto a dining table and licking raw meat from the restaurant's plates, triggering widespread public backlash.
- A woman sparked outrage after posting a video of her pet dog licking raw meat from plates on a restaurant table in Beijing.
- Netizens criticised both the dog owner and the restaurant for poor hygiene and lack of public responsibility.
- The restaurant has suspended operations, refunded diners with compensation, and said it will pursue legal action.
CHINA: A woman in Beijing has sparked intense public anger after posting a video online showing her pet dog climbing onto a dining table inside a restaurant and licking food directly from the plates.
In the video, which quickly went viral, the dog is seen standing on the table and licking raw lamb slices meant for hotpot.
The woman filming the incident appeared amused, commenting in the video that the dog had “licked even the bottom of the plate” and jokingly asked how she should praise it, adding that it was “amazing”.
The clip was uploaded in the early hours of 18 December, with a caption saying the dog was “eating hotpot” and had finished a plate of raw lamb.
Netizens Condemn Lack of Public Responsibility
The video immediately drew outrage online, with many netizens criticising the woman for what they described as a complete lack of basic public ethics and hygiene awareness.
Comments flooded social media condemning both the dog owner and the restaurant, with users questioning how a dog was allowed to enter the premises and climb onto a dining table. Some expressed disgust over potential health risks, warning that pets could carry bacteria, parasites or viruses that might endanger other diners.
Others said the woman’s decision to publicly share the video showed a shocking lack of judgment, while several netizens called for legal consequences, arguing that the incident posed a public health risk.
Some commenters also referenced past high-profile food safety scandals in China, questioning whether heavy compensation cases in the past had failed to deter irresponsible behaviour.
Restaurant Responds With Closure and Compensation
The restaurant involved, a Beijing branch of Wangyefu Nanmen Hotpot, later confirmed that the incident took place on the night of 16 December.
According to the restaurant’s management, staff immediately stepped in to stop the behaviour, sealed and replaced all affected tableware, and carried out a full disinfection of the premises.
The restaurant announced that it would temporarily suspend operations for rectification. It also offered full refunds plus additional compensation equal to the original bill amount for all diners who ate at the outlet between December 16 and 18.
The management added that a police report had been filed and that legal action would be pursued against the woman involved.
Debate Over Accountability and Food Safety
While many netizens welcomed the restaurant’s response, some argued that the compensation offered was insufficient, suggesting that the dog owner should bear the full financial responsibility.
Others compared the incident to previous food safety controversies in China that resulted in multi-million-yuan compensation, calling for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties to deter similar behaviour.
The case has reignited broader discussions about pet etiquette in public spaces, restaurant hygiene standards, and the responsibilities of businesses to protect diners from health risks.
0 Comments