A celebrity dog in central China was allegedly stolen and slaughtered, leaving its owner searching for justice while exposing gaps in the country's legal protections for pets, reported South China Morning Post.
Guo, a travel influencer from Henan province, owned Chutou, an eight-year-old Border Collie known for his intelligence, energy and gentle temperament.
Social media star with 1.5 million followers
Chutou had built a large following of more than 1.5 million fans on mainland Chinese social media by accompanying Guo on journeys across the country. The dog often appeared in videos filmed in remote locations, from snow-capped mountains to deserts, and was known for guarding his owner outside the tent during camping trips, reported South China Morning Post.
According to Fengmian News, Guo purchased Chutou from a street vendor in 2018 for more than 2,000 yuan (about US$300) when the puppy was just three months old.
Dog disappears while owner is abroad
Recently, Guo left Chutou in the care of his parents while undertaking a solo road trip in Georgia.
On May 11, Guo's father discovered that the dog had gone missing from the family's farmland. Surveillance footage later showed two individuals taking Chutou away on an electric bike.
After learning of the incident, Guo cut short his overseas trip and returned to China to search for his pet.
Search leads to grim discovery
On May 26, Guo located the man accused of taking Chutou and offered 10,000 yuan (around US$1,500) for the dog's safe return.
The man reportedly claimed he believed Chutou was a stray and said the animal followed him after being called.
Guo disputed the explanation, noting that Chutou was wearing a collar and a tracking device and had been resting on the family's farmland at the time.
He later learned that the dog had allegedly been sold to a dog meat restaurant for 180 yuan (around US$27) and had already been eaten.
China's complex laws on dog meat
China does not have a nationwide ban on the consumption of dog meat, although dogs were removed from the country's official livestock catalogue in 2020.
Some cities, including Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have prohibited the eating of dogs and cats. However, dog meat continues to be consumed in certain regions where it is regarded as a traditional food item.
Yulin festival remains a flashpoint
The issue remains particularly contentious in Yulin, in the Guangxi autonomous region of southern China, where a controversial dog meat festival has been promoted by traders and held annually around June 21 since roughly 2010.
At its peak, reports suggested that thousands of dogs were slaughtered during the event. In recent years, local authorities have introduced measures including bans on street slaughter, stricter market supervision and enhanced hygiene inspections, but the festival continues to attract criticism from animal welfare groups.
