A dog trainer from China is facing heavy criticism after a dog died during his live stream on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
Pan Hong, a Chinese dog training streamer known as Pan Hong Loves Playing with Dogs, has over 16 million followers on Douyin, where he posts videos of his interactions with dogs.
However, fans were horrified after a dog apparently died during one of his live streams. According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred while Hong was bathing Aite, an elderly Alaskan Malamute who was very popular on his channel.
Aite was seen struggling with Hong during the bath, trying to break free. Aite’s mouth was tied with plastic zip ties, and he appeared visibly distressed, seemingly unable to breathe properly. Hong allegedly slapped the dog, who then stopped moving.
Hong reportedly continued with the bath despite viewers in the chat expressing serious concern for the dog’s well-being. He eventually ended the stream.
News of Aite’s death began circulating online, and Hong apologized to his fans. However, the streamer also claimed that the dog’s death was due to his advanced age and “pre-existing heart conditions.”
“It’s my fault, so if you want to criticize, direct it at me. To all of Aite’s fans and his original owner, I offer my sincere apologies. Aite’s life has come to an end, and I will personally handle all subsequent matters in private,” Hong posted on his social media.
Photo and video: Douyin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
