Travel Blogger Says His Famous Border Collie Was Stolen and Killed for Meat in China

A social media-famous Border Collie was allegedly stolen, sold to a restaurant and eaten in China, the dog’s owner told followers last week.

Travel blogger Guo became popular on Douyin, China’s short-video platform, after sharing videos of his travels with Chutou, his eight-year-old Border Collie.

According to the South China Morning Post, Chutou was taken on May 11 from Guo’s father’s home while Guo was overseas.

Guo later tracked down a man he suspected of stealing the dog and offered 10,000 yuan, about $1,500, for Chutou’s safe return. He was then told the dog had already been sold to a restaurant for 180 yuan, about $27, to be slaughtered and eaten.

The suspected thief reportedly claimed he had broken no law because he believed Chutou was a stray. Guo disputed that, saying the dog had been wearing both a collar and a tracker.

Guo was reportedly told: “The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss.”

When he went to the restaurant where Chutou had allegedly been sold, hoping to recover some of the dog’s fur as a keepsake, staff told him the remains had been thrown away.

Guo has said he intends to pursue legal action. However, one lawyer told Chinese media that theft cases are typically handled as criminal matters only when the stolen property is valued at more than 2,000 yuan.

Humane Society International estimates that around 10 million dogs are killed each year for China’s dog meat trade, despite bans on eating dogs and cats in many Chinese cities.

China currently has no national companion-animal protection law, and pets are generally treated as property under the law.

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