Guests upset because hotel keeps dogs in the kitchen

Quang Binh: A group of tourists from Hanoi were upset because a hotel in Dong Hoi kept dogs without muzzles in the kitchen, next to many cooking ingredients.

On the afternoon of April 27, Vu Kien, a resident of Hanoi, and a group of 30 guests checked into a three-star hotel in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh, for three nights. When he and the children in the group went to the reception to ask for ice, a poodle rushed at them and barked. The male tourist reminded the receptionist to keep them on a leash and received the answer that "pet dogs do not bite". During their stay, he said that people in the group were "scared by the dog" many times.

When he had breakfast the next morning, he saw the dog chained to the table in the kitchen, surrounded by cooking ingredients. The guests reminded him, but the staff said "they let it sleep with people." In addition, the dog was also fed right in the kitchen.

The dog was chained in the hotel kitchen, next to many cooking ingredients. Photo: NVCC — The dog was chained in the hotel kitchen, next to many cooking ingredients. Photo: *NVCC*

Mr. Kien said he was upset by the indifferent attitude of the hotel staff. Because the group of 30 people and the holiday made it difficult to find a room, the tourists had to accept staying. However, they cut their schedule short and returned to Hanoi a day early because they "could not stand the irresponsibility" of the accommodation facility.

"I'm not afraid of dogs, but I worry about the children in case the dog isn't vaccinated against rabies," he said.

On the morning of April 30, the Quang Binh Department of Tourism inspectors inspected and confirmed the incident. The Quang Binh Department of Tourism inspectors said they only issued a warning, not an administrative fine because there were no specific regulations on this issue. The dog was fully vaccinated. However, the representative of the unit commented that not keeping the dog in a safe place and leaving the dog in the cooking area when running a hotel was "not advisable".

The hotel owner admitted to his shortcomings, saying that the dog was a family pet and he did not think "there would be any big problems". He promised to take the dog elsewhere in the future. Regarding the bad attitude, the hotel owner denied it, saying that it might be the local staff's way of communicating that caused the tourists to misunderstand.

An An, who specializes in managing villas and homestays near Hanoi and Quang Binh, said she has seen homestay businesses raise dogs to guard the house, but they are always muzzled and caged to ensure safety and create a comfortable space for guests.

She said that keeping dogs in hotels is "very limited" because many customers do not like dogs. In addition, keeping dogs in the kitchen more or less affects the quality of meals and is more dangerous if customers are allergic to dog or cat hair.

Phan Tuan, former manager of a 5-star hotel in Phu Quoc, added that there are no specific regulations prohibiting hotels from keeping dogs, but emphasized that "in large hotels, there are only people, no dogs." He said it is necessary to avoid dogs biting people, affecting food hygiene and safety and disturbing tourists.

Son Tung, a hotel manager in the Old Quarter, said that "hotels should not keep dogs to ensure the comfort of guests." He suggested that if hotel owners like, they can keep dogs in their own homes.

However, Tung also shared that he has seen some homestays intentionally raise pets to create a unique feature. "The guests themselves are aware of this and only book when they feel comfortable," he said.

Tu Nguyen

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