25-06-2025
In China, Dogs' Teeth Removed Without Anaesthesia To ‘Ward Off Evil'
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Social media users were outraged when they saw a video from China of black dogs having their teeth extracted without anaesthesia.
A live stream in China showing black dogs having their teeth pulled 'raw and without anaesthesia" has infuriated online viewers. This startling incident occurred on June 12 in what appears to have been a Chinese ritual to 'ward off evil spirits."
A Jiangsu province viewer, named Meng, saw the live-stream session online, in which individuals were forcing open the mouths of black canines and extracting their teeth with primitive tools, according to the South China Morning Post.
Meng initially believed that these were fake products, but upon closer inspection, she saw that they were actual dog teeth. The images shared by Meng showed that the dogs' snouts were covered with white material, and their teeth had blood stains on them.
Meng claimed that the seller would immediately get a tool and 'extract a tooth" as soon as someone placed an order. The vendor immediately blocked her when Meng raised questions in the live chat.
According to one of the vendors, Li, the teeth of older dogs were more beneficial since they were considered to provide stronger protection from bad luck. He added that these teeth lose their 'spiritual power" when they are cooked.
But the video caused outrage on social media.
'You only consider preventing evil because you have committed too many evil deeds," someone wrote, per the outlet.
According to Chinese folklore, black canines' teeth are linked with the deity Erlang Shen and are believed to have supernatural abilities that are used to fend off evil spirits. Legend has it that Erlang Shen was able to defeat demons and stave off evil with the help of his devoted blackhound, Xiao Tianquan.
Chinese folklore believes that black dog teeth are amulets that ward off evil spirits, and it is traditional to wear them tied on a scarlet thread or hang them from windows and doors.
Several vendors are also accused of working with dog meat establishments to extract the dogs' teeth without anaesthesia because the flesh is still fit for human consumption.
Following complaints, the product links were taken down and the live-stream account was made private. However, similar goods are still offered on a number of internet marketplaces.
Moreover, it might be against the Advertising Law for retailers to include content about dog tooth extraction in promotional movies or live-streams.
Domestic and stray animals are primarily unprotected under current Chinese law, which focuses on the preservation of wildlife. In China, animal abuse has long been a problem, particularly when it comes to dogs.
Yulin's yearly Dog Meat Festival is famous around the world for its cruel customs. Thousands of people attend the 10-day fair in the southwestern city, where many buy dogs from crowded cages to be killed for human consumption.
