Asian restaurant in California closes after death threats over unproven dog meat allegations

An Asian restaurant that received death threats over unproven accusations that the establishment was serving dog meat has closed.

David Rasavong, who with his parents, owns “Tasty Thai” Lao & Thai Takeout in southeast Fresno, announced the restaurant’s closure on social media Tuesday.

Tasty Thai has been open for roughly six months near the intersection of First and Belmont avenues.

“After much thought and consideration, we, as a family, have decided to close this location of Tasty Thai due to all the threats and harassment,” Rasavong posted on Instagram. “Safety has and will always be our main priority.”

Allegations of dog meat being began in early May when an incident occurred involving a pit bull being tied up at a home located next door to the restaurant.

Maria Alvarez Garcia posted a Facebook video of herself confronting the owner of a panting pit bull tied up by its front paws with no water near where it was laying. She said the dog was approaching heat stroke.

Fresno Police visited the home and decided the dog was not being abused.

In later videos, Garcia continued to insist the dog was abused.

Commenters started to suggest that someone is eating the dogs. The family living in the home is Asian.

Garcia later posted a picture of the restaurant.

And commenters started assuming the restaurant was serving the dogs.

No evidence of it was shared.

Nonetheless, the restaurant started to receive death threats and other negative comments via phone calls from around the country. People also posted negative reviews of the restaurant on Google and Yelp.com.

Tasty Thai does not serve dogs, Rasavong said.

In fact, Rasavong, a longtime Fresno entrepreneur whose family has been in the restaurant industry for 20 years, was offended and insulted by what he said were false allegations.

“Just because we’re an Asian restaurant?” Rasavong said. “That’s disgusting.”

Rasavong himself owns two dogs, a maltipoo and bichon frisé.

He also said no one at the restaurant lives in or is associated with the house where the pit bull incident occurred.

“As immigrants, it has always been my parents’ dream to pass on the richness and traditions of our culture,” Rasavong posted on social media. “They’ve always done that through food and service to the community.

“We are currently looking at a couple of options to re-locate to and open a new Tasty Thai in order to continue my parents’ dream.”