A beloved eight-year-old Border Collie who amassed more than 1.5 million social media followers by accompanying his owner on epic journeys across China has been stolen, sold for just 180 yuan (about $25 or £19), and slaughtered at a local restaurant. The tragic killing of Chutou has shed light on the continuing violence and consumption of dogs in China and a gap in the law to protect the four-legged companions.
The nightmare began on 11 May in Ningling County, located within central China's Henan province. The dog's owner, a popular travel influencer named Guo, was away on a solo road trip through Georgia, leaving Chutou in the temporary care of his parents. While resting on the family's rural farmland, the famous blue merle canine suddenly vanished.
