Balay Dako issues statement on aspin incident

Balay Dako has issued a statement on Monday following the viral post of a pet owner named Lara Antonio, who aired her frustration about being unable to dine at the restaurant due to her dog Yoda's size and breed.

On Facebook, the Tagaytay restaurant said they "sincerely apologize for the recent misunderstanding" on their pet policy.

The restaurant said that while their company loves animals, they "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 also promised to take further steps "to ensure that our staff are being trained and guided to understand and implement our policies effectively."

The statement came after Lara shared a post on Facebook detailing their Sunday visit to the Tagaytay restaurant, which claims to be pet-friendly.

In her post, Lara said Balay Dako didn't allow them inside the premises because one of her pets, Yoda, who weighs 18 kilograms, is heavier than the restaurant's allowable weight for dogs, which staff told her was 10-15kg.

But according to Lara, they had eaten at the restaurant before with Yoda and hadn't encountered any issues.

Aside from the weight, Lara said the restaurant's staff also questioned Yoda's breed.

"I have a weird gut feeling immediately, so instead of Aspin, I [said] 'mixed breed'," she said.

"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," she said.

Lara decided not to push through with dining in Balay Dako, but she added how she continued researching the restaurant's pet guidelines as they took the dogs back to the car.

When she found no pet guidelines online, Lara decided to ask the staff to show her their rules that medium-sized dogs must only be up to 15kg.

"The manager came, took me to the side, and I asked her,  'Can you show me exactly where it says online or on social media na up to 15kg only? She says, 'Sa FB lang po,'" she recalled. "So, I said, 'Okay, show me.'"

"And guess what? She [couldn't]," she added. "She scrolled back to 2023, and all she [could] show me [were] photos of dogs that are allowed."

Lara also said a photo of a golden retriever bigger than Yoda was posted on Balay Dako's social media.

The restaurant's staff explained that some of their pet rules are not on their website or social media.

"So, what's clear to me is that they decide. They'll decide based on [your dog's appearance]," she said.

“And then they’ll let you know just like that. Kasi kung 15 kg talaga bakit pwede Labrador? Bakit may golden retriever doon sa photo na pinapakita niya of ‘dogs that are allowed?’” she added.

Lara concluded her post by saying that Balay Dako should have "clear guidelines" on pets.

"TL; DR: Balay Dako is NOT pet friendly to big dogs or Aspins. Don't bother going," she ended.

Meanwhile, if you are a pet owner, here are things to remember when going out in public spaces with your fur babies, as well as a pet-friendly hotel recommendation in Alabang and a list of pet hotels where you can entrust your furry friends.

— Hermes Joy Tunac/CDC, GMA Integrated News