A tragic and outrageous story has shocked China’s entire internet. Chutou, an 8-year-old Border Collie with over 1.5 million followers, was stolen, sold to a restaurant for the equivalent of just $27 and eaten.
The dog’s owner said that Chutou had been kidnapped. The animal, which for years had delighted and moved netizens with its videos, ended up on the table of a restaurant. According to reports, the dog was sold for 180 yuan (approx. $27).
Local police in China have opened an investigation into the dog’s theft. The case has caused huge outrage among Chinese netizens and reignited debate about the lack of adequate laws protecting animals in a country where dogs still end up on dinner tables in some regions.
Chutou was a true internet star – more than 1.5 million people followed his daily adventures. The death of the pet in such dramatic circumstances has triggered a wave of grief, anger and calls for harsher penalties for animal cruelty.
This story shows the dark side of China’s reality, where pets, even those adored online, can in an instant become “merchandise”.
What do you think? Should such things still be possible at all in 2026? Let us know in the comments.
