Beloved Canine Reportedly Found on Menu After Mysterious Disappearance

A beloved canine celebrity from social media met a tragic end, reportedly being turned into a meal at a restaurant in China after being abducted from its owner’s farm.

Guo, a well-known travel influencer in China, and his eight-year-old Border Collie named Chutou, had captured the hearts of over 1.5 million followers on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok.

Chutou was a loyal companion to Guo, joining him on countless adventures across the country. From snowy mountain camps to desert treks, Chutou was known for vigilantly watching over his owner’s tent at night.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, Guo had recently set out on a solo road trip to Georgia, leaving Chutou in the care of his parents.

The dog mysteriously vanished on May 11. Surveillance footage reportedly captured two unidentified individuals whisking Chutou away on an electric bike.

On May 26, Guo – who had returned to China to search for the dog – located the man accused of stealing Chutou, and purportedly offered him 10,000 yuan (£1,100) for the animal’s return.

The man said he mistook Chutou for a stray, SCMP claimed, but Guo refused the explanation – highlighting that the dog had been wearing a collar and GPS tracker.

Guo was later told that Chutou had been sold to a restaurant serving dog meat for 180 yuan (£20), and that his loving pet had been eaten, according to the outlet.

Guo, a travel influencer from Henan province, regularly documented his travels with Chutou after buying him in 2018 from a street vendor as a puppy

The canine accompanied his owner for years on journeys across China, from camping trips on snowy mountains to deserts, often guarding him outside his tent at night

Chutou purportedly went missing on May 11 and was later sold to a restaurant as dog meat, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP)

‘The dog is dead, so stop making a fuss. I did not break the law,’ the man who allegedly sold the dog said, according to SCMP.

Guo apparently confronted the restaurant worker who slaughtered Chutou, hoping to recover his remains or fur.

‘The hair was thrown in the rubbish long ago,’ the butcher allegedly replied.

Guo first bought Chutou in 2018 from a street vendor, paying over 2,000 yuan (£221) when the puppy was just three months old.

The dog became known for his intelligence, energy and gentle temperament across videos he appeared in on social media.

A devastated Guo purportedly reported the incident to the police and submitted evidence of Chutou’s market value, hoping the case would lead to criminal charges. 

Police in Ningling County in Henan province have opened an investigation, according to the outlet HK01. 

The case sparked widespread outrage online, renewing debate over China’s dog meat trade.

One social media user wrote: ‘I cried while watching Chutou’s old videos. Such a bright, living soul ended so tragically. 

‘Those who stole, killed and ate him must pay.’

Guo and Chutou amassed more than 1.5 million followers on Chinese social media 

The dog became known for his intelligence, energy and gentle temperament across videos he appeared in on social media

A devastated Guo purportedly reported the incident to the police and submitted evidence of Chutou’s market value, hoping the case would lead to criminal charges

While some Chinese cities have banned the consumption of dogs and cats, the country has no comprehensive national companion-animal protection law, meaning pets are generally treated as property. 

Approximately 10 million dogs and four million cats are killed each year in China for human consumption, according to Humane World for Animals.

A 2017 survey revealed that even in Yulin, home of the notorious dog meat festival, 72 per cent of people don’t regularly eat dog meat despite efforts by dog meat traders to promote it. 

A nationwide survey conducted in 2016 found that 64 per cent of Chinese citizens wanted to see an end to the Yulin festival and more than half think the dog meat trade should be completely banned.

The majority of those polled, 69.5 per cent, have never eaten dog meat.