People in customer-facing roles already deal with a lot in the service industry. From meager wages and lack of tips to entitled customers and understaffing issues, workers are faced with unfathomable expectations. For many, they understand that’s par for the course.
But when things go a tad too far, it has workers itching to crash out.
Such was the case for one Starbucks barista, who was dumbfounded by a customer’s question at the drive-thru. In a viral clip, Sammie (@sambamfun) shares how she works for a “place where we wear green aprons.” She also added the #Starbucks and #starbucksbarista hashtags in her caption.
“Today, a lady asked me for a pup cup,” Sammie says. She was going to put the whipped cream in the two pup cups when the woman suddenly asked her, “Is this harmful for dogs?”
Sammie, who is a barista and not a veterinarian, told the woman the whipped cream is made with dairy. However, she wasn’t sure.
“My dogs get seizures and I don’t want them to get a seizure,” Sammie says the woman told her.
“You’re asking me, a barista, if your pup cup is going to give your dogs a seizure, which you’re telling me they’re prone to seizures?” Sammie says. “When did I become a vet?”
Viewers were flabbergasted by the Starbucks patron
In the comments section of Sammie’s video, several folks couldn’t believe the woman would ask such a question.
“NOT THE DOGS LIFE ON OUR HANDS NOW,” a top comment read. Another wrote, “Customers always be asking questions as if we experts.”
One user who worked at a frozen yogurt shop added, “Worked at a froyo shop and one time a lady asked me which flavors dogs could eat. like why would i have any idea. at all. seriously.”
What are pup cups–and are they safe for dogs?
Also known as puppuccinos, pup cups are treats dog owners can share with their furry pets at places like Starbucks. Often made out of whipped cream, the treat is typically served in a paper cup.
According to Sploot Vets, pup cups are generally safe “IF given in moderation.” The site also writes that it depends on your pet’s dietary needs.
“For example, dogs with diabetes or dietary intolerances may NOT process pup cups as safely as dogs that don’t have these conditions,” Sploot Vets reports. “In such cases, it would be best to seek veterinary guidance.”
While there appear to be no official resources on whether puppuccinos are OK for dogs with seizures, it may be wise to avoid anything that can trigger the condition.
Additionally, a Reader’s Digest article states that how much whipped cream is safe for your dog depends on your dog’s size as well. According to the resource, “an espresso-size puppuccino is generally acceptable for most medium to large dogs, but smaller dogs should definitely scale back.”
But are pup cups given in moderation?
More and more folks have been asking for the not-so-secret menu item at Starbucks ever since it blew up on TikTok–not to mention, it’s free.
One vet on the r/Pets subreddit begged dog owners to take it easy, after noticing some folks are giving it to their pets “almost every day.”
“Whipped cream is not good for dogs. It’s okay to have as a treat, but not every day of their lives. It could easily make them sick and die faster,” they wrote. “I’m a vet, and I’ve had dogs in for getting sick on these things. It’s not fun to experience and see a dog go through. Please be careful out there!”
@sambamfun hello ????? #barista #genzstare #starbucks #starbucksbarista #help ♬ original sound – sambamfun
The Mary Sue reached out to Sammie via Instagram direct message.
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