PAWS, netizens hit restaurant 'aspin' rejection

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), along with netizens, have expressed frustration with a popular restaurant in Tagaytay City for denying entry to a mongrel despite its pet-friendly policy.

In a detailed Facebook post, social media user Lara Antonio recounted her experience at the restaurant with ‘Yoda,’ an 'aspin' (asong Pinoy).

PAWS on Monday, Sept. 9, said it was “deeply disappointed” to learn about the incident of breed discrimination towards an “aspin” or asong Pinoy.

“This incident is particularly disheartening as it underscores the persistence of harmful stereotypes and unjust biases against our very own native dogs,” PAWS said.

“Our fervent hope is that everyone will adopt a more inclusive and compassionate approach and that steps will be taken by the restaurant to correct their policy so that incidents like this will not happen again,” it said.

What happened?

In a detailed Facebook post, social media user Lara Antonio recounted her experience at the restaurant with the aspin Yoda.

The restaurant staff reminded Antonio that pet entry is only permitted for small to medium-sized dogs. A staff member approached and informed her that Yoda could not be allowed inside. Antonio insisted that she previously brought Yoda without any issues.

“What’s the dog’s breed?” the staff asked Antonio, and she responded, “mixed breed.”

"I had an immediate gut feeling, so instead of saying 'aspin,' I said 'mixed breed.' I've dealt with this before, and as frustrating as it is, 'mixed breed' seems more acceptable to elitist establishments like Balay Dako," Antonio shared in her post.

The staff then inquired about Yoda’s weight, to which Antonio said 18 kilograms. The staff informed her that the restaurant only allows medium-sized dogs weighing between 10 to 15 kilograms. When asked to show the specific policy, the staff and the manager failed to provide documentation.

Antonio said she also expressed her dismay when the staff attempted to justify their actions by pointing out other dogs in the restaurant, including a Golden Retriever and a Labrador, which are “technically bigger” than Yoda.

“Aspins are very loving animals. Stop giving disgrace to the name. Treat them right,” one netizen commented on Antonio’s post.

“No one should discriminate against aspins,” another added.

As of this writing, Antonio's post has over 36,000 shares.

Apology for the misunderstanding

In a statement, Balay Dako apologized for the "misunderstanding" on its pet-friendly policy but did not address the issues raised by Antonio.

"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.

The restaurant also committed to providing additional training and guidance to their staff to ensure proper implementation of the policy.

Businesses urged to reflect genuine ‘pet friendly’ label

PAWS released successive reminders pushing commercial establishments that label themselves as “pet friendly” to be “mindful of their practices, and to ensure that their policies reflect genuine inclusivity, and not arbitrary standards or breed preferences.”

The non-governmental organization said it has been working to uplift the image of aspins, which they said “are often misunderstood and undervalued, despite their beauty, intelligence, and loyalty.”

The group reminded businesses that “pet friendly” should not be a marketing tool to exploit.

“True pet friendliness involves creating a welcoming environment for all breeds including Aspins who are just as deserving of love and acceptance,” it said.