A dog-snatching gang have been arrested for stealing, killing and selling pooches in eastern China.
CCTV footage has emerged showing one member of the gang shooting a dart into a dog that was chained to a gate in Guali town, Hangzhou, on November 14.
After the animal passed out, the man returned to the site on his scooter to collect its body.
A suspected dog-thief shoots a dart into a pooch attached to a gate in Guali Town, China
The dog struggles and falls down onto the ground after being attacked by the passerby
Local police said they were trying to find out what type of liquid had been applied on their darts and whether they were poisonous.
Police also claimed the gang sold dead dogs to restaurants at the prices of 50 to 60 yuan (£5.6-6.8) each.
Zhao Hanjie, an officer from the Guali Police Station, said the gang caught pet dogs as well as stray dogs in the area, according to Pear Video.
In a dirty warehouse, the police found four suspects selling dog corpses to dog meat traders. Officers confiscated 19 dead dogs on site.
The four suspects have been arrested. Further investigation from the police is underway.
The suspect then returns on his scooter and picks up the canine which has passed out
He puts the dog onto his lap before driving back to his warehouse to meet potential buyers
Apparently as winter is approaching, more and more restaurants in China are in need of dog meat to make dog stew – a winter delicacy that’s supposed to bring diners health benefits.
Keith Guo, an animal lover working for PETA Asia and a native of Guangdong, said dog stew is common in Guangdong as well as the neighbouring Guangxi Province.
Mr Guo, 27, who has a passion for food sociology, explained that meat from dogs smells and tastes gamier compared to other types of meat, so chefs usually use spices such as chilli peppers and ginger to cover the odor.
As a result, dog stew is heavy and could warm up the diners’ body quickly.
Police raid the gang’s warehouse and find 19 dead pooches as well as dog meat buyers
‘For traditional Chinese medicine, any food that could warm up the body is considered beneficial,’ he said. ‘That’s also why dog meat is thought to be especially nutritious to the human body.’
Mr Guo added that the weather could get humid in southern China during winter, and according to traditional Chinese medicine, humidity could weaken one’s health. That’s why locals like eating warm dog stew to boost their immune system.
Mr Guo explained that apart from poisonous darts, dog thieves would also use lassos to catch the animals and drag them onto their vehicle.