News Desk
For one Shenzhen woman, a long-awaited holiday in the Maldives was supposed to be a blissful escape, a rare chance to unwind and recharge. But as she lounged on white-sandy beaches under the warm Indian Ocean sun, an unthinkable tragedy was unfolding back home.
Her four-year-old hunting dog, Yi Yi — described as the “most important member of her family” — had gone missing after escaping from the Little Tail Pet Boarding Centre, where she had entrusted her beloved pet. What followed would not only shatter the woman’s sense of joy but also ignite a heated national conversation about the treatment of animals in China.
The Lunar New Year period is often marked by joy and celebration, but for pet owners, it can also be a logistical challenge. Fireworks, a staple of the festivities, can frighten even the calmest of animals. Knowing this, the woman had carefully selected the boarding centre, which advertised spacious, fenced play areas and attentive care.
On January 29, however, those safeguards failed. Yi Yi, startled by nearby fireworks, slipped out of the facility and disappeared into the sprawling city.
News of the escape reached the woman while she was thousands of miles away. Overcome with panic, she began organizing a search remotely, offering a hefty reward of 50,000 yuan (approximately US$6,800) in hopes of recovering her cherished companion.
But her hopes were dashed when an investigation revealed Yi Yi’s tragic fate. The dog had wandered onto a highway, been struck by a car, and left by the roadside.
What followed was even more shocking: two highway patrol officers, assuming the dog was a stray, took its body to their company kitchen, where it was cooked and consumed by eight employees.
The heartbreaking story has cast a spotlight on the treatment of animals in China, a country grappling with evolving attitudes toward pets and wildlife. In recent years, pet ownership has surged, particularly among urban middle-class families. Yet, laws protecting animals remain patchy and inconsistent, leaving even cherished pets vulnerable to neglect or mistreatment.
In Shenzhen, a pioneering 2020 law banned the consumption of cats and dogs, reflecting changing societal values. However, incidents like Yi Yi’s show that enforcement is still an issue. While the highway company expressed regret and promised disciplinary action against the workers, the damage was done.
Experts have also criticized the pet boarding centre for negligence. Fu Jian, a lawyer specializing in animal law, argued that the facility bears significant responsibility for Yi Yi’s escape and should compensate the owner not only for financial losses but also for emotional distress.
“The problem lies in how we view animals,” Fu said. “Many people still see them as disposable, not as family members with rights and dignity.”
The woman, devastated by the loss, shared a poignant social media post mourning Yi Yi: “You were hit by a car while running home. I’m sorry I could not protect you. I will always remember you.”
Unable to speak publicly due to her grief, she later announced plans to sue both the boarding centre and the highway company. She also vowed to donate any compensation to animal welfare causes, turning her personal tragedy into a call for change.
Yi Yi’s story has resonated deeply across China, where the plight of animals often sparks fierce debate. Related hashtags on social media have garnered over 65 million views, with netizens expressing outrage and sorrow.
“Just reading her words brings me to tears,” one commenter wrote. “Even if it were a stray, how could anyone be so heartless as to eat it?”
Animal rights advocates hope the outcry will lead to stronger protections for pets and more accountability for institutions like boarding centres. They point to the need for clearer regulations and harsher penalties for mistreatment, particularly in light of China’s burgeoning pet industry.
What began as an idyllic holiday in the Maldives became a harrowing lesson in trust and systemic shortcomings. For Yi Yi’s owner, the loss is irreparable, a painful reminder of how fragile the bond between humans and animals can be.
As she continues her fight for justice, her story has become a rallying cry for a nation reckoning with its treatment of animals — a bittersweet legacy for a dog who only wanted to find her way home.
This story is rewritten and was originally reported by the South China Morning Post.
