A woman shop owner in northeastern China who adopted stray dogs from rescue groups, then killed and cooked them, has triggered a wave of outrage.
An animal shelter in Liaoning province recently received multiple reports from concerned dog lovers.
Whistleblowers claimed a local grain and oil wholesaler was taking in stray dogs then making a soup out of them.
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According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, the woman, who uses the alias Zhixuan, contacted shelter staff via messaging apps asking about free adoptions.
She promises to care for the canines and agrees to follow-up visits, then takes them home.
Mainland reports said Zhixuan used the method to adopt and slaughter multiple dogs from different shelters.
Screenshots circulating online show her posting videos of cooking dog meat on social media.
In one post, she wrote: “Dog meat is almost ready. Perfect for a rainy day with a drink.”
Another shows her child eating dog meat with the caption: “Only the best for the kid.”
Shelter staff discovered her actions through the online posts and reported the matter to the authorities.
Tan, a director of the rescue group that received the reports, said he shared Zhixuan’s details with local pet shops and shelters to raise awareness.
He urged the animal welfare community to stay vigilant and stressed the need to thoroughly vet people wanting to adopt animals.
Tan added that Zhixuan had messaged him privately, refusing to apologise for her actions.
The incident went viral on mainland social media, with related topics racking up more than 10 million views.
One online observer said: “People like Zhixuan are despicable. Those poor stray dogs thought they had found a loving home, only to be taken straight to hell.”
Another asked: “When will China enact laws to punish those who show such blatant disregard for life?”
On May 13, the police confirmed that the shop owner had cooked and eaten dog meat.
A Market Supervision Bureau official said the dog meat had been seized according to the law and the case was under investigation.
Zhixuan’s social media account has been set to private, with all posts hidden and friend requests disabled.
Eating dog meat is not banned in most parts of China.
Traditional beliefs hold that it boosts male virility or helps with arthritis, but there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.
Eating such meat carries significant food safety risks.
In 2020, the city of Shenzhen in southern China became one of the first in the country to ban the consumption of cats and dogs.
Violators face fines of up to 10 times the value of the goods.
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