Chongqing anti-animal cruelty demonstration
Date published: July 6, 2026
In early June 2026, an animal abuse allegation in Chongqing developed into a rare and visible public demonstration. The suspect, a 39-year-old man named Li, was accused online of obtaining dogs and cats through false adoption. He allegedly abused the animals and even killed some of them. On June 6, a footage showing Li abusing a dog on his balcony spread online sparked public outrage. By June 9, over a hundred, according to certain reports, several hundreds of people gathered around Li’s residential compound in Chongqing’s Jiangbei district. The crowd called for anti-animal cruelty legislation and criminal punishment of abuse. Some were carrying signs accusing Li with animal abuse and adoption fraud. Three dogs had been rescued from Li’s home and sent to a pet hospital and animal shelter.
It was reported that videos and photos, later removed from Chinese platforms, appeared to show confrontations between demonstrators and police, with some of the demonstrators being dragged away by police officers. On June 10, Chongqing police released an official notice stating that Li falsely claimed to adopt dogs, then harmed them, causing injuries and deaths. He was placed under administrative detention under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. On June 11, following further police intervention, the demonstration ended, and police sealed off the area, preventing further public gatherings.
The remarkable events renewed online discussions and intensified existing demands for anti-animal cruelty legislation.
Sources and further reading
Mainland China sources
– 潮新闻 / Chao News, republished by Tencent News, “锯平小狗牙齿、剪断尾巴？重庆‘山姆打包哥’被曝伪装领养虐杀动物” [Teeth sawed flat, tail cut off? Chongqing “Sam’s Club takeout guy” accused of posing as an adopter and abusing/killing animals], June 9, 2026.
– 上游新闻 / Shangyou News, republished by The Paper, “‘山姆打包哥’被重庆警方拘留” [“Sam’s Club takeout guy” detained by Chongqing police], June 10, 2026.
Hong Kong sources
– 蔡苡柔, 香港01 / HK01, “有片｜重庆山姆打包哥虐狗仅行拘 百人包围屋苑不肯走：要求判刑” [Video: Chongqing “Sam’s Club takeout guy” receives only administrative detention for dog abuse; over 100 people surround residential compound and refuse to leave, demanding sentencing], June 11, 2026.
Taiwanese sources
– 陳怡穎, Yahoo Taiwan / 太報 Tai Sounds, “牙齒被鋸平、尾巴遭剪斷！『打包哥』殘忍虐狗數百人包圍抗議釀警民衝突” [Teeth sawed flat, tail cut off: “takeout guy” accused of brutal dog abuse; hundreds surround site in protest, leading to police–civilian clashes], June 10, 2026.
Singapore sources
– Channel NewsAsia, “Rare protests erupt in China after dog abuse videos spark online anger,” June 12, 2026.
International English-language sources
– Sean Cheng, South China Morning Post, “Protest outside home of alleged dog abuser in China’s Chongqing,” video, June 2026.
– Kelly Ng, BBC News, “China: Police detain man after dog torture videos spark outrage,” June 11, 2026.
– CNN, “Animal abuse allegations trigger violent clashes in China,” video, June 11, 2026.
– Murphy Zao and Lily Kuo, The New York Times, “As More Chinese Own Pets, Young People Stand Up for Animal Welfare,” June 25, 2026.