Chutou, a border collie with over 1.5 million social media followers, was stolen in China and sold for a mere 180 yuan ($27) to a dog meat restaurant, where it was slaughtered and eaten, according to local media reports.
The disappearance and search
The dog vanished on 11 May while its owner, Chinese travel influencer Guo, was abroad. Guo's father was caring for Chutou at the time. Surveillance footage allegedly captured two individuals taking the dog away on an electric scooter from the family home. This prompted Guo to cut short his trip and return to China to search for his beloved pet.
On 26 May, Guo contacted a suspect and offered 10,000 yuan (about $1,500) for Chutou's safe return. However, he later learned that the dog had allegedly been sold to a dog dealer on 14 May for just 180 yuan ($27). The dealer then resold Chutou to a restaurant, where it was killed and consumed, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Outrage and legal action
Guo, a travel blogger from Henan province, and Chutou rose to fame after documenting their journeys across China on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Guo is now pursuing legal action. The suspect reportedly claimed he mistook Chutou for a stray dog, but Guo rejected this explanation, noting that Chutou was wearing a collar and had a GPS tracker (though the battery was dead), according to Dahe Daily.
The case has sparked widespread outrage online in China, where Chutou had amassed more than 1.5 million followers. It has also reignited debate over China's animal welfare laws. While some cities have banned the consumption of dogs and cats, the country lacks a comprehensive national companion-animal protection law, and pets are generally treated as property under existing legal frameworks.
Police in Ningling County, Henan province, have opened an investigation, according to HK01. One social media user expressed grief, saying, "I cried while watching Chutou's old videos. Such a bright, living soul ended so tragically. Those who stole, killed and ate him must pay."
