A blogger reported on August 27 that while seated and writing at the Starbucks Xuhui West Bund Dream Center store in Shanghai, they were informed by staff that their seat was in a "pet zone" and asked to vacate it for customers arriving with cats and dogs. The blogger expressed confusion, noting that Starbucks is a food and beverage establishment and the seating area was indoors, not outdoors, where pets are typically prohibited by regulations.

The blogger questioned why lawfully seated customers should be forced to yield to those whose pets may not be permitted in the premises, calling the situation absurd. Sina Finance attempted to contact the store directly but the call went unanswered. The store had previously stated it had rectified the issue, saying the pet zone had been moved outdoors due to food safety considerations, though Starbucks has yet to issue an official response.

An official customer service representative said the specifics of the incident were unclear and that they would record the feedback for further review. The situation remains unresolved as of press time, with no further clarification from Starbucks on the policy or the incident itself.