In Sydney, demonstrators gathered in the streets to demand justice following the horrific killing of a stray dog and her puppies in China, which has led to widespread outrage.
This article contains details of animal cruelty that some readers might find upsetting.
The dog, known as Wang Wang, was reportedly beaten with sticks and subsequently set on fire by a group of four boys in Jieyang, Guangdong, in late June, as per reports from Chinese media and videos shared online.
In addition to Wang Wang, three of her puppies were also brutally killed. Authorities in China reported that the boys, all of whom are under 14 years old, will be sent to specialized schools for behavioral correction instead of facing criminal charges.
The attack was filmed by the children and uploaded to the internet, igniting a wave of public outrage and calls for the establishment of a national animal welfare law in China.
Thousands voiced their demands for enhanced animal protection on social media. However, as these posts began to face censorship, many sought assistance from international communities.
Tomoko Horrell, along with a group of supporters, rallied at Town Hall in Sydney over the weekend to advocate for the cause. Horrell noted that while some individuals did not understand their purpose and even mocked the demonstrators, others offered encouragement.
“I encountered many compassionate individuals who took the time to listen and show their support, which I truly appreciated,” Ms. Horrell remarked.
Rads, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons, has actively campaigned for Wang Wang on social media and is organizing vigils in both Melbourne and Sydney. She learned about the tragic event on Facebook, two weeks after it occurred.
“I feel empathy for animal lovers in China. We have the freedom to protest here in Australia,” she said.
Numerous users reported that their posts regarding Wang Wang disappeared shortly after posting. Chen Xiangqian, an animal adoption volunteer and singer, experienced this firsthand when all his posts on the RedNote platform, which has 230,000 followers, were hidden after he discussed Wang Wang’s situation.
The ABC reached out to RedNote for a statement regarding these incidents.
Many expressed gratitude to Ms. Horrell on the Threads platform for organizing the Sydney event, with one user stating that “we can only rely on animal advocates from overseas.”
Protests and supportive actions have also been reported in the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and other nations, according to the BBC and various media outlets.
In Canada, Olivia Wang has been distributing flyers in Toronto and regularly posts about Wang Wang on social media. She hopes that international pressure will catalyze change in China.
“Due to the censorship of posts about this situation on RedNote, I’ve resorted to using other platforms to voice my concerns,” Ms. Wang said. “I feel powerless against these invisible barriers and deeply worry for those in China who are trying to speak out.”
Concerns regarding animal welfare have been heightened by the lack of legal protections, according to Dr. Peter Li, an associate professor at the University of Houston-Downtown. He noted that public support for banning animal cruelty is increasing in China.
Although a wildlife protection law was enacted in 1988, which prohibits harm to wild animals, there are currently no specific legal protections for pets.
“The widely publicized case of Wang Wang and her puppies has intensified public concern over the absence of laws that can prevent and deter such cruel acts,” Dr. Li stated.
He mentioned that over 100 million people in China own dogs or cats, indicating that pets have become integral to family life. Dr. Li suggested that the government may be censoring this issue due to fears that protests could escalate beyond their control.
“Historically, animal protection has been viewed as a low-political sensitivity issue in China. However, this could change if protests violate laws or if the messaging used is interpreted as politically charged,” he explained.
In 2025, a legislative proposal for the protection of companion animals was submitted to the National People’s Congress, but it has not yet been prioritized by lawmakers. The ABC has reached out to the State Council of China for further comments.
