Pizza Hut bans pets from baby chairs after viral dog incident at Market! Market! branch

“We love pets as much as our community does, but high chairs are strictly reserved for human toddlers,” the pizza chain said in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 13. It noted that it adheres to “strict international cleanliness and sanitation standards,” and its dining space is “thoroughly sanitized to ensure a safe, hygienic environment for all our guests.”

“Moving forward, pet owners visiting our pet-friendly branches will be kindly asked to keep their pets inside their own personal pet strollers or carriers while dining,” it said. “We appreciate the community’s feedback as we work to keep our stores clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone.”

The statement comes after images of a small dog being fed while seated on a high chair at the pizza chain’s Market! Market! branch went viral on Threads.

The incident, which reportedly happened on Sept. 7, involved a group bringing a small dog into the branch and placing it in one of the restaurant’s high chairs. The images drew criticism from social media users over the use of a chair intended for children.

No laws specifically penalize the misuse of high chairs or the conduct of pets in restaurants, but both the restaurant and the pet owner may be held legally liable for potentially causing health issues for other customers.

Article 2183 of the Civil Code holds pet owners liable for any harm or damage their animals cause. The harm could also extend to health issues that others face as a result of the owner’s negligence.

Because children under three years old may be more vulnerable to allergies or illnesses, placing dogs in designated baby seats may cause issues for other families dining at the establishment.

The Sanitation Code prohibits the presence of live animals in spaces designated for food preparation and service—such as restaurant kitchens. Though the incident did not occur inside a food-service area, the closer proximity of servers to dogs because of the high chair may also jeopardize the health and safety of other customers.

Rules on pet-friendly spaces vary widely across cities and local governments. Taguig City does not have any ordinances guiding the presence of pets in public spaces.

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