A heartbreaking story from China has gone viral across the world, leaving millions of animal lovers devastated and angry.
Chutou was an eight-year-old Border Collie known for his intelligence, energy, and gentle temperament. The dog had amassed more than 1.5 million followers on the Chinese social media platform Douyin after accompanying his owner, travel influencer Guo, on years of journeys across China, from snowy mountains to deserts, often guarding him outside his tent at night.
While Guo was on a solo road trip in Georgia, he left Chutou at home with his parents. On May 11, Guo’s father discovered Chutou missing from the family’s fields. Surveillance footage later showed two strangers taking the dog away on an electric bike.
Guo immediately cut his trip short and rushed back to China. 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, saying the dog followed him after being called. But Guo rejected the explanation, pointing out that Chutou had been wearing a collar with a tracking device and had been resting on the family’s land.
What Guo discovered next was crushing. The man admitted that Chutou had been sold to a dog dealer for 180 yuan, around $25. Guo then learned the dog had been resold to a restaurant, slaughtered, and eaten. The suspect and his family offered no apology, allegedly saying, “The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I did not break the law.”
Guo said in a May 31 Douyin post that he would not accept mediation or a private settlement and intends to pursue the case legally. The case has reignited debate over animal protection laws in China, where the incident is being handled as a property theft case rather than under separate domestic pet protection laws.
For millions who followed Chutou’s adventures, his tragic end is a painful reminder that stronger animal welfare laws are long overdue.
