Following more than one hundred reports received from concerned citizens worldwide, OIPA ETS has formally addressed the competent Chinese authorities, embassies, calling for transparency, effective preventive measures and stronger legal protection for animals
OIPA has formally intervened following the exceptionally serious case of cruelty involving a stray mother dog, widely known as Wang Wang, and her newborn puppies in Xinheng Town, Jiedong District, Jieyang, Guangdong Province, China.
According to the information and audiovisual material circulated internationally, four minors allegedly subjected the animals to deliberate and prolonged violence. The mother dog was reportedly beaten, tortured and ultimately set on fire, while her puppies were also killed. The violence was filmed and subsequently disseminated online.
The case has generated widespread shock and concern internationally
In the days following the circulation of the videos, OIPA received more than one hundred reports and appeals from citizens in Italy, across Europe and in several other countries, urging the organisation to intervene and request concrete action from the Chinese authorities.
“We were deeply shocked by the images and information that emerged from this case, as were people across the world. Acts of such extreme cruelty should never occur, and the suffering inflicted on Wang Wang and her puppies cannot be minimised or ignored. A clear and lasting response is needed to prevent similar violence from happening again,” said Massimo Pradella, President of OIPA ETS.
In response, OIPA sent a formal institutional letter to the competent authorities of the People’s Republic of China and embassies requesting detailed information regarding the measures already adopted and calling for a serious, transparent and lasting response.
OIPA requests clarity on the measures involving the minors
While recognising the importance of protecting the identities and rights of the minors involved, OIPA stressed that their young age cannot result in the extreme suffering inflicted upon the animals being minimised.
Cases of such severity require a comprehensive educational, psychological, preventive and supervisory response.
OIPA has therefore requested clarification on whether the minors have undergone, or will undergo, individual psychological and behavioural assessments, whether the educational measures specifically address empathy, violence prevention, responsibility and respect for animals, and what long-term monitoring will be implemented.
The organisation has also requested information regarding the responsibilities assigned to the parents or legal guardians and whether the circumstances that allowed the abuse to continue without timely adult intervention have been examined.
Repeated reports of animal-torture videos from China shared and sold online
The Jieyang case is not the only incident reported to OIPA involving the recording and online dissemination of extreme violence against animals.
Over recent years, the organisation has received numerous reports concerning videos depicting the torture of dogs, cats and other animals, allegedly exchanged, commissioned or sold through online groups and messaging platforms, including Telegram.
While each report must be independently investigated and verified by the competent authorities, the recurrence and similarity of these cases raise serious concerns. When animal cruelty is filmed and circulated for entertainment, recognition or financial gain, it risks becoming normalised, rewarded and imitated, particularly among younger audiences.
OIPA therefore stressed the need for stronger intervention by the Chinese authorities and digital platforms to identify those responsible, remove and prevent the further circulation of such content, investigate any networks involved in its production or monetisation, and introduce more effective preventive and legal measures.
Regarding the Jieyang case, OIPA also requested clarification on whether the original videos and their copies have been removed and whether other individuals may have encouraged, commissioned, facilitated or attempted to profit from the violence.
OIPA calls for stronger protection and preventive action
In its formal communication, OIPA acknowledged the progress made by the People’s Republic of China in areas such as wildlife protection, animal epidemic prevention, animal management and the online protection of minors. However, the organisation stressed the need for a comprehensive national framework expressly addressing the deliberate torture, serious abuse and unjustified killing of companion and stray animals.
OIPA called for stronger and proportionate measures, including clear legal prohibitions, effective sanctions, specific procedures for serious cases involving minors, and action against the recording, sale, monetisation and dissemination of animal-torture content. The organisation also urged closer cooperation among public authorities, educational institutions, digital platforms and animal-protection organisations.
These measures should not be limited to punishment, but should also prevent further violence, protect younger generations from harmful content and intervene before abusive behaviour becomes normalised or escalates.
OIPA also invited the Chinese authorities to cooperate on preventive and educational initiatives for children and young people, including awareness activities focused on empathy, responsibility, violence prevention and respect for animals and all living beings.
The organisation has formally requested a written reply detailing the measures already adopted and any further preventive, educational or legislative action under consideration. OIPA remains available for constructive institutional dialogue and concrete cooperation.
