China owner of poisoned ‘smiling Shiba Inu’ berated for exploiting canine’s death
Tearful custodian of ‘cute and obedient’ animal with 500,000 online followers posts video of dead pet; is slammed and praised
The newlywed owners of a Shiba Inu dog famous online for its adorable smile, which was poisoned to death in a village in eastern China, have been accused of cashing in on its death.
The six-year-old canine, Peppa, had been raised by the couple since it was three months old.
It died recently after its owners took it to their hometown in rural Shandong province for a honeymoon, where it ate poison-tainted food on the road.
The dog has a combined half a million followers on several mainland social media platforms. Many people were attracted by its cute appearance and obedient personality.
A video clip of the husband embracing the animal’s lifeless body in his arms while crying and occasionally shaking its body has gone viral after it was released on December 17, the Yangtze Evening News reported.