Chutou, an eight-year-old border collie known online for his intelligence, energy and gentle temperament, belonged to travel influencer Guo from Henan Province, the South China Morning Post reported.
The dog garnered more than 1.5 million followers on Chinese social media after years of traveling with Guo across China, often being filmed guarding him during overnight camping trips.
Chinese travel influencer Guo and his border collie Chutou amassed 1.5 million followers on Chinese social media. Photo from Xiaohongshu |
Guo bought Chutou from a street vendor in 2018 for more than 2,000 yuan when the dog was three months old, according to AsiaOne.
Guo had left Chutou with his parents while traveling alone in Georgia. On May 11, his father discovered Chutou missing from the family’s farmland. Surveillance footage later showed two men taking the dog away on an electric bike.
Guo immediately returned to China and began searching for the dog. On May 26, he tracked down a man suspected of taking Chutou and offered 10,000 yuan for the dog’s return. The man claimed he believed Chutou was a stray and said the dog followed him when called. But Guo disputed the account, saying the dog was wearing a collar with a tracking device and had been resting on the family’s land.
He later learned that the dog had been sold to a dog meat restaurant for 180 yuan and eaten. The suspect and his family allegedly refused to apologize and told Guo: “The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I did not break the law.”
Guo also approached a restaurant worker involved in slaughtering Chutou in hopes of recovering the dog’s remains or fur. “The hair was thrown in the rubbish long ago,” was the answer he received.
Guo has since reported the case to police and submitted evidence of Chutou’s value in an effort to pursue criminal charges.
Du Wei, a lawyer at Sichuan Weixu Law Firm, said theft cases can be prosecuted criminally only when the value of the stolen property exceeds 2,000 yuan. Other lawyers said Guo may be able to seek compensation for direct financial losses, though claims involving the dog’s commercial value and emotional distress may be more difficult to prove.
China does not have a specific law protecting companion animals. Pets are generally classified as property, and related disputes are typically handled through civil compensation.
The country also has no nationwide ban on dog meat consumption, though dogs were removed from its livestock catalog in 2020.
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