Mom Defends Getting Her Daughter a Free Starbucks Pup Cup: 'What Is the Difference?' (Exclusive)

Starbucks says it will still offer the sweet treat for free amid the recent online debate

A Pennsylvania mom is standing by her decision to get her 2-year-old daughter a free Starbucks pup cup after sparking a recent online debate.

In May, influencer Lauryn Clare posted a Starbucks hack via Instagram, recommending other patrons get their children a free pup cup when ordering drinks to make them “just as happy as [receiving] a $5 cake pop."

The “pup cup,” or “puppuccino,” is a secret menu item meant for dogs from the coffeehouse chain. It features whipped cream in a 3 oz. espresso-sized cup.

Related: Starbucks Shifting from Paper to Reusable Cups by End of Next Year: 'Protecting Our Planet'

After Clare shared the clip of her 2-year-old daughter Adeline indulging in the free treat, she faced a wave of criticism from others online, with some saying she was “taking advantage of the system.”

In response, the stay-at-home mom tells PEOPLE, "If Starbucks is saying that with a paid drink, a cup of whipped cream is free, what is the difference between me buying a drink and getting a pup cup for my kid, and you buying a drink and getting a pup cup for your dog?"

Clare adds that she "would totally pay for the whipped cream in a cup!" However, she notes that the "great, non-expensive treat" is something Starbucks "probably could afford to keep free!"

Starbucks affirmed the secret menu item will stay free despite the recent debate.

“We love seeing the different ways our customers brighten loved ones’ days with Starbucks,” a representative for Starbucks told PEOPLE on Thursday, July 25. “Customers can order a side of whipped cream with the purchase of a beverage at no extra charge.”

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Clare tells PEOPLE that she came up with the hack on the fly, noting that she doesn't have a dog of her own. "I didn't know if they would even do it," she recalls. As she approached the drive-thru window, her daughter woke up from a nap, and she knew she would want something, too.

"I had a gift card, and it had like, $4 and change on it, so I just grabbed myself a drink, and when I pulled up to the window, she woke up. So I was like, 'Oh, my God, I didn't get her something.' And I was like, 'Oh, I wonder if, like, I could get a pup cup for free?' " she explains.

She then asked the barista if they charge for pup cups. The barista promptly replied, "'Oh, absolutely not,' " and inquired, "'What's your furry friend's name?' "

Clare says that she quickly explained to the Starbucks staffer the treat was for her toddler and the barista remained unbothered and had "no problem with it."

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