A popular 8-year-old Border Collie named Chutou, who amassed over 1.5 million followers on Douyin alongside his owner, a travel influencer known as Guo, was stolen from his family’s farmland, sold to a dog meat restaurant for roughly 180 yuan ($27), slaughtered, and eaten, sparking widespread outrage across China and internationally.
The incident occurred on May 11, 2026, while Guo was on an overseas road trip in Georgia. Chutou had been left in the care of Guo’s father at the family home in Ningling County, Shangqiu, Henan Province. Surveillance footage captured two individuals taking the collared dog—reportedly also equipped with a GPS tracker—away on an electric bike from the family fields.
Guo immediately cut short his trip and returned to China to launch an intensive search. Using evidence including CCTV footage, he tracked down a suspect around May 26. Guo offered 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,500) for the safe return of his beloved companion. The suspect admitted to taking the dog but claimed he believed it was a stray. According to reports, the dog had already been sold the same day to a dog meat restaurant. Chutou was slaughtered around May 14 and consumed before Guo could recover him.
When confronted, the suspect (or members of his family) responded dismissively. “The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I did not break the law,” the man allegedly said, maintaining that he thought the animal was ownerless despite the collar and rural family setting.
Guo has since reported the case to police and is pursuing legal action, including a lawsuit. He has submitted evidence highlighting Chutou’s commercial value as an influencer dog and his original purchase price of over 2,000 yuan in 2018. However, the case faces hurdles under China’s legal framework, where pets are typically treated as property under civil law. Criminal theft charges often require proving a significant economic value threshold, which can be challenging even for a well-known social media personality.
Chutou, known for his intelligence, high energy, and gentle nature, joined Guo as a three-month-old puppy bought from a street vendor. The pair documented extensive road trips across China—from snowy mountains to deserts—on Douyin. Videos frequently showed Chutou “guarding” Guo outside his tent at night, endearing the duo to millions of fans who followed their adventures.
Guo has shared emotional videos detailing his grief and the confrontation, further amplifying the story’s reach. He reportedly visited the restaurant in a final attempt to recover any remains or keepsakes, only to learn the dog’s fur had been discarded.
The case has ignited intense online debate in China about pet theft, animal welfare, and the dog meat trade. While the consumption of dog meat is regional, declining in many areas due to shifting public attitudes, and restricted in some cities, it is not fully banned nationwide. Dogs were removed from the national livestock list in 2020, but legal protections for companion animals remain limited compared to many other countries.
This tragic incident underscores the deep emotional bonds many pet owners share with their animals and highlights gaps in legal safeguards for companion animals in parts of China. As of early June 2026, the story continues to trend, with calls for stronger animal welfare legislation gaining momentum.
Guo’s loss has resonated with pet lovers worldwide, serving as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by animals even in close-knit family settings.
