June 5, 2026, 11:12 amJune 5, 2026, 11:12 am
Border Collie Chotou was an internet celebrity in China. The animal had more than 1.5 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok Independent writes. Its owner, travel blogger Guo, posted videos on the platform documenting Chotou’s life. The dog was filmed while playing or traveling. Now Chotou is dead – and his owner is now trying to draw international attention to the case.
The dog Chotou is dead – his case is making international headlines.Image: x
According to Chinese media reports, Chutou disappeared on May 11th. On that day, Guo was abroad and his father was looking after the dog. Video footage shows the dog being transported away by two strangers on an electric scooter.
Shortly afterwards, Guo returned to look for his dog. According to his own statements, he is said to have managed to find a man who is said to be behind the kidnapping. He offered him 10,000 yuan (almost 1,200 francs) to get Chotou back.
According to “The Post”, it was already too late. Guo is said to have been told that the dog was sold to a restaurant for 180 yuan (around 21 francs). He had already been slaughtered and eaten there. He also didn’t receive an apology, says Guo. “The dog is dead, so don’t make such a fuss,” the accused man is said to have told him.
Chotou’s case has now sparked new debates about animal rights in China, as the Independent reports. Dealing with dogs is extremely controversial in China. According to a national survey from 2016, a large portion of the population spoke out against the dog meat trade. In some cities the consumption of dog meat is already banned. However, around 10 million dogs are still killed every year for the dog meat trade. China has no national pet rights laws.
Chotou’s owner Guo still wants to try to take legal action against the kidnappers. According to his own statements, he reported the case to the authorities. The HK01 agency reports that the police in Ningling County, Henan Province, have started investigating. (dab)