Dog on baby high chair at McDo SM North sparks hygiene concerns

Being pet-friendly should not mean allowing pets to use equipment specifically meant for babies.

A Threads post has sparked discussion after a customer spotted a dog sitting on a baby high chair inside a McDonald’s branch at SM North EDSA.

“Ano kayang thought process ng McDonald’s management na hinahayaan lang yung customer paupuin yung furbabies nila sa baby highchair?” the netizen wrote, questioning why restaurant staff allegedly allowed it.

The poster stressed that she is a pet owner herself and understands treating pets as family. But she argued that baby high chairs should be a clear boundary.

“Like gets ko naman na anak na turing niyo sa pets niyo (since I have furbabies din), pero to think na baby gagamit nyan?” she wrote. “What if yung baby na gagamit nyan next is may allergy sa balahibo?”

The concern goes beyond visible dog hair.

Health authorities including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that animals can carry germs even when they appear healthy and clean. Young children, particularly those below five, are among the groups more susceptible to illnesses that can spread between animals and humans.

High chairs deserve particular attention because babies do not merely sit in them. They touch the chairs and trays, eat with their hands and frequently put their fingers into their mouths. The CDC recommends cleaning and sanitizing high-chair trays before and after they are used for eating.

Pet allergens are another concern. Allergens associated with dogs can come not only from fur but also from dander and proteins found in saliva, meaning removing visible hair alone may not eliminate potential exposure.

Other Threads users agreed that responsible pet ownership requires boundaries.

“Pet owners like them are the reason why the responsible, decent ones are getting all the hate and ridicule,” one commenter wrote.

“Kung ayaw nyo nasa floor ang fur child nyo, place them on your lap,” the commenter added. “Malaking bagay na ang madaming pet-friendly restos, wag maging abusado.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with restaurants welcoming pets where their policies allow it. But being pet-friendly does not mean every chair, table or piece of equipment should become available to animals.

Restaurants can accommodate pets while keeping baby high chairs exclusively for the infants and toddlers they were designed for.

The boundary is simple: baby high chairs are for babies.

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