The owner of Chutou, a popular border collie on Douyin, which is basically China’s version of TikTok, has accused thieves of stealing his dog and selling it for $27 to a restaurant, where it was then dismembered and consumed.
Chutou has won over many online followers by going on road trips with his owner through the heart of China, and he’s often described in Chinese media as well-behaved and friendly. In a now-deleted statement, the owner mentioned that when he confronted the thieves, they claimed Chutou had a tendency to chase after strangers, making him an easy target for theft and consumption.
The practice of stealing dogs for meat has been overlooked by the Chinese Communist Party, particularly in rural areas, even though eating dog meat is not typical in Chinese culture. With dog ownership growing in popularity, there is increasing public opposition to such practices. Unfortunately, there are minimal animal welfare laws in China to protect owners like Chutou’s, identified only as “Guo” in reports. To make a case against the thieves, proving the dog’s worth as property would be necessary.
According to reports, Guo acquired Chutou as a puppy in 2018 and often documented their adventures together on Douyin. He left Chutou with his parents while planning a road trip to Georgia and realized the dog was missing on May 11. Thanks to some surveillance footage, the family identified the thieves, who admitted to selling the dog to a restaurant for $27. Guo later visited the restaurant and learned that they had slaughtered Chutou for food.
Chutou has amassed 1.5 million followers on Douyin, and his owner shared a heartbreaking tale about the incident. Currently, Guo is seeking legal action, but the lack of protective laws makes that quite challenging. Notably, when Guo confronted one of the thieves, he alleged that he thought Chutou was a stray, despite the clear signs that he was a pet, stating, “The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I’m not breaking any laws.”
Reports of this incident surfaced amid national outrage regarding dog thefts in various regions of China. Some sources suggested that Guo might have had to delete his initial video about Chutou’s fate, possibly due to pressure from the Communist Party. Rumors about the situation circulated on Weibo, where it was mentioned that Guo’s original video was no longer accessible on Douyin.
On May 31, a Twitter account known for sharing anti-regime content claimed Guo had posted another video hinting at government pressure. In this video, Guo reportedly expressed feeling unsupported despite online backing, urging people to approach him directly rather than pressuring him online.
This Twitter account also hinted at reports claiming that the government had restricted access to the village where Guo and his family live. While unverified, this could indicate an effort to prevent outside investigations or prevent the spread of information regarding the situation. Comments from locals on Bilibili suggested they faced harassment from local authorities.
The Chinese Communist Party allows the consumption of dog and cat meat, resisting global calls for stronger animal protection laws. This incident occurs during a sensitive time as the Yulin Dog Meat and Lychee Festival approaches, which typically starts on the summer solstice, this year on June 21.
The festival is notorious for having “wet markets” where dogs are killed and prepared for consumption directly in front of customers. Some vendors offer whole roasted dogs ready to eat, with the animals often kept in appalling conditions and subjected to abuse before being killed.
The Chinese government has made attempts to address the outcry surrounding the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, a cultural tradition that persisted throughout most of the 2010s, but animal rights activists have pointed out that most Chinese people do not consume dogs, and pet ownership has surged in recent years. Following campaigns by Western celebrities against the festival in 2016 and 2017, the Communist Party began to spread misinformation suggesting that the festival had been canceled and that dog consumption was banned—both claims are false. Although dogs have been legally reclassified and don’t fall under “livestock” anymore, pet theft for food has increased.
As the 2023 Yulin Dog Meat Festival approaches, the Humane Society International noted that many dogs consumed there are likely stolen from loving homes. A spokesperson explained that these animals are often taken from their homes, treated cruelly, and poorly transported to Yulin.
A recent poll found that the majority of Yulin residents do not eat dogs and generally support a ban on the festival, with around 88% indicating they “never or rarely” consume dog meat.
