It reminds me of an urban legend that I read, probably in one of Jan Harold Brunvand's books (I've read nearly all of them).

A tourist couple goes to a Chinese restaurant and brings their little dog with them. When the waiter comes, they tell him their dog is hungry, too, and ask for some scraps to feed him. The waiter speaks very little English, and seems confused, so they attempt to convey their meaning by pointing to their dog and making eating motions. The waiter nods, smiles, and takes the dog into the kitchen.... You can guess the rest.