A celebrity dog in central China was stolen and slaughtered, leaving its owner seeking justice but confronting gaps in the country’s legal protections for pets.

Guo, a travel influencer from Henan province, raised Chutou, an eight-year-old Border Collie known for his intelligence, energy and gentle temperament.

The dog had amassed more than 1.5 million followers on mainland social media after accompanying Guo on years of journeys across China, from snowy mountains to deserts, often guarding him outside his tent at night.

In 2018, Guo bought Chutou from a street vendor for over 2,000 yuan (US$300) when the puppy was just three months old, Fengmian News reported.

Recently, while Guo was on a solo road trip in Georgia, he left Chutou at home with his parents.

On May 11, Guo’s father discovered Chutou missing from the family’s fields. Surveillance footage later showed two strangers taking the dog on an electric bike.

Guo cut short his trip and rushed back to China to search for him.