The incident reportedly occurred at a Nanmen Hotpot branch, a Beijing-style hotpot restaurant chain, on 16/12.

A video posted by the woman shows her encouraging her pet dog to eat directly from the plate. "Honestly, I do not even know what this rolled lamb tasted like because my dog ate it all. The plate is now empty," the woman said.

"How can I praise my dog enough? It is amazing," she continued in the video.

The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread outrage online.

The pet dog eating meat from a plate in the restaurant. Photo: Chinese Daily

Following the video, the restaurant announced on 18/12 that it would close for three days for thorough disinfection. All tableware and utensils were replaced.

The establishment pledged to improve its management to prevent similar incidents. The restaurant will issue refunds and compensation to all customers who dined there from 16/12 to 18/12.

The restaurant stated it is pursuing legal action against the woman to hold her accountable. A staff member confirmed they contacted the police to locate the female customer.

According to health experts, dog and cat saliva can contain harmful germs that, in the worst-case scenario, could lead to death.

This incident has also highlighted tensions between pet lovers and diners prioritizing hygiene. One person commented, "I will not go to restaurants that allow pets because I am afraid of sharing tableware with them."

The incident occurs amidst a rapidly growing pet market in China, leading to an increasing number of pet-friendly restaurants and commercial establishments in cities.

Recently, a Chinese court ordered the parents of two 17-year-olds to pay 2,2 million yuan (8,2 billion dong) in compensation to the Haidilao restaurant chain. The teenagers had urinated into a hotpot at a Haidilao outlet as a prank. This amount covered the costs of replacing tableware, cleaning fees, and damages to the brand's reputation.

Hai Thu (According to SCMP, Chinese Daily)