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A social media-famous dog with more than 1.5 million followers in China was stolen and slaughtered for meat, sparking outrage online.
According to the South China Morning Post and other Hong Kong media, a border collie named Chutou, owned by Henan-based travel influencer Guo, was recently stolen and sold to a slaughterhouse.
Guo had built a following of more than 1.5 million by posting videos of her travels across China with Chutou. Over the years, the dog had accompanied her through snow-capped mountains and scorching deserts alike.
When Guo had to leave on a road trip, she left Chutou in the care of her parents at their farm. The dog vanished without warning one day.
Surveillance footage from the farm showed a man and a woman arriving on an electric bicycle and taking Chutou away. Upon hearing the news, Guo cut her trip short and returned home to search for the dog.
Guo eventually identified the man responsible for the theft. He was unrepentant, saying he had taken the dog thinking it was a stray and telling Guo to stop making a fuss because he had broken no law and the dog was already dead.
Chutou had been sold to a slaughterhouse for just 180 yuan (about $27). Guo went to the facility hoping to recover even the remains or fur, but was told everything had already been discarded.
Guo said she would hire a lawyer and pursue legal action against the man. Analysts say proving damages will be difficult, however, as China has no laws specifically protecting pet animals.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
