Chinese highway workers sparked public outrage after cooking and eating a dog that had escaped from a pet boarding centre. - Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote
BEIJING: A pet dog in China escaped from a boarding centre after being startled by fireworks, was struck by a car, and was subsequently eaten by highway workers.
During the Lunar New Year, a woman boarded her dog, Yi Yi, at the Little Tail Pet Boarding Centre in Shenzhen, southern China, while holidaying in the Maldives.
On Jan 29, four-year-old Yi Yi, a native hunting dog, was startled by fireworks, escaped from the centre, and went missing.
The boarding centre, which offers six to eight hours of outdoor playtime in a fenced grassy area, had allowed Yi Yi to be unleashed that day with the owner’s approval.
After Yi Yi went missing, the owner offered a 50,000-yuan (US$6,800) reward to find her beloved dog, describing Yi Yi as the most important member of her family.
That same day, the owner’s investigation revealed that Yi Yi had wandered onto a Shenzhen highway, was hit by a car, and left on the roadside.
Surveillance footage later showed two highway patrol officers taking the dog back to their company’s kitchen, where it was cooked and shared among eight employees.
The dog’s owner posted: “Yi Yi was hit by a car while running home. I’m sorry I could not protect you. I will always remember you.”
Overcome with grief, the owner stated that she fell ill and was unable to speak to the media.
According to the mainland media outlet The Paper, both the highway company and the traffic police confirmed that highway workers took the dog after it was found and later consumed it. The company’s chef also admitted to the act.
A representative of the highway company stated that when the two patrol officers found the dog, it showed no signs of life, with its tongue hanging out.
They explained: “The two workers followed regulations by taking photos on-site and uploading them to the company’s system.”
“They assumed it was a stray dog and, since it was already dead, decided to handle it privately.”
The highway company expressed regret over the incident and promised strict action against the involved employees.
The manager of the pet boarding centre said they were fully cooperating with the investigation and accepting full responsibility.
Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, stated that the boarding centre should compensate the pet owner for both financial loss and emotional distress.
He added that the highway workers mishandled the dog and violated the owner’s property rights, making them liable for compensation as well.
On February 8, the dog owner updated her social media post, stating that the highway company’s cafeteria and the involved employees had breached food safety laws and were under investigation.
She announced plans to sue and will donate all compensation received.
The incident has sparked widespread attention on mainland social media, with related reports garnering 65 million views.
One netizen commented: “Just reading the owner’s words brings me to tears. I support her in defending both her and Yi Yi’s rights. I hope Yi Yi finds happiness in heaven.”
Another wrote: “Even a stray dog should be buried with dignity. How could anyone be so heartless as to eat it?”
Notably, Shenzhen banned the consumption of cats and dogs in 2020, making it one of the first mainland cities to outlaw the practice. Those violating the law may face fines up to 10 times the value of the goods. - South China Morning Post
