Dog in China with 1.5 million followers allegedly stolen & sold to dog meat eatery for S$34

A celebrity dog in China was allegedly stolen, sold, and slaughtered to the despair of its owner, a travel influencer.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the eight-year-old border collie, Chutou, was known for its intelligence and gentle temperament.

Guo, the owner of Chutou, had left his pet at home with his parents while he went on a solo road trip to Georgia.

On May 11, Guo's father realised Chutou had gone missing from the family's fields and surveillance footage showed two strangers taking the dog away on an electric bike.

Guo located the man accused of stealing Chutou and is now seeking justice for his dog, despite facing roadblocks in China's legal protections for pets.

Cut short trip to search for pet

In 2018, Guo bought Chutou, then a three-month-old puppy, for over 2,000 yuan (S$380) from a street vendor, reported SCMP.

Guo brought Chutou on his journeys across China, which was documented on Chinese social media and was also posted to YouTube.

According to SCMP, their Chinese social media accounts amassed over 1.5 million followers.

Stopped holidaying, searched for dog

After Chutou went missing, Guo cut short his trip and returned home to search for his dog.

On May 26, Guo found the man accused of stealing Chutou and offered 10,000 yuan (S$1,900) to return his dog.

However, the man claimed he thought Chutou was a stray and said Chutou followed him after being called.

Guo retorted that his pet was resting on his family's farm, wearing a collar and a tracker.

Sold to a dog meat restaurant

The alleged thief told Guo that he had sold Chutou to a dog meat restaurant for 180 yuan (S$34) and that it had been eaten.

According to SCMP, the alleged thief made no apology and the man reportedly said: "The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I did not break the law."

Guo also confronted the restaurant worker who had slaughtered his pet, hoping to recover his remains or fur, but was told his pet's remains had been thrown in the trash long ago.

Guo reported the case to the Chinese police and submitted evidence of Chutou's market value, in hopes that criminal charges could be enforced.

No companion animal protection laws in China

According to SCMP, which quoted a Sichuan-based lawyer who spoke to Chinese media, theft cases can only be pursued criminally if the stolen property is valued at more than 2,000 yuan (S$380).

The alleged thief can face a charge carrying up to three years in prison, if Chutou's value is established.

SCMP reported that lawyers said Guo can seek compensation for direct losses, but the commercial value of his pet as a celebrity dog and his emotional loss may prove hard to ascertain.

China has no companion animal protection laws, and such disputes are often settled through civil compensation.

While there is no nationwide ban on dog meat, dogs have been excluded from China's livestock catalogue since 2020, and cities such as Shenzhen and Zhuhai have banned the consumption of dogs and cats.