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This article forms part of the archives of Business Insider South Africa, which was published as a partnership between News24 and Insider Inc between 2018 and 2023.
- A Cape Town restaurant has introduced a menu specifically catering for its clients' dogs.
- Doggy chicken cubes, steak and ‘blasting biltong’ flavoured ice-cream are all included on the menu.
A Cape Town restaurant has launched a menu specifically designed for dogs which include meatballs, sirloin steak and "blasting biltong" flavoured ice-cream.
Prices for Doggy chicken cubes at Die Damhuis restaurant in Melkbosstrand start at R54, going up to R60 for Doggy Burgers and R120 for a boneless sirloin steak.
“Melkbosstrand can most definitely qualify as one of the best dog walking beaches with its broad and long stretch of Van Riebeeckstrand,” says Steven Jooste, COO at Die Damhuis restaurant in Melkbosstrand.
“What better way to end a walk on the beach [than] with a drink of water or beverage and nice warm meal for dog owners and their fluffs' alike?”
READ: SA dog owners could be slapped with a R20,000 fine for disruptive barking
Jooste says there has been a steady demand for the dog menu, which was launched in July. The Doggy Boerewors (R60) is the most popular item.
“To completely relax and unwind [animal owners] like to take their pets along on outings so they don’t feel like bad pet parents for leaving them at home unattended,” Jooste told Business Insider South Africa.
He says the idea for the doggy menu was born after seeing similar concepts in the Netherlands where dogs are welcomed to many restaurants.
“Seeing as Damhuis has its roots in Dutch history in the Cape, it was a match to follow the model of the country.”
“It is also that we as animal lovers felt that pet owners deserve freedom of movement to enjoy their day out without worrying if their dog is welcome or not.”
Jooste says while they welcome animals, they are “still animals and therefore there are rules that apply to the owner".
Dogs are only allowed outside the restaurant, have to remain on leashes and disruptive dogs have to be removed from the premises.
Staff are also not permitted to pet animals unless they’ve received the owner's consent, and are not allowed to feed the dogs directly - the food for the dogs are delivered to the owner, who will then give it to the dog.
Jooste says the majority of their clients have welcomed the Doggie menu, but a small group of people had concerns about hygiene.
“But we cannot find information that supports the fact that pets present health hazards especially considered that they are only allowed outside,” he says.
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