Tibetan mastiffs, once regarded as powerful symbols of wealth and status among the Chinese elite, are now roaming the streets as strays by the thousands in the Qinghai province of China.
These majestic canines were in high demand in years past, fetching incredible prices of 2 million yuan (around $290,000 USD). One even sold for an astonishing £1.2 million (more than $1.5 million USD).
Owning a Tibetan mastiff was a display of excessive wealth, and the animals were often “gifted” to officials as bribes.
With such enormous sums of money on offer, breeders jumped on the craze hoping to make a fortune; thousands of breeding centers sprang up to meet the demand.
However, by 2013, the market had changed. Strict anti-corruption laws had come into place, and there was an enormous oversupply of this previously sought-after species. Greedy breeders wanting to make a quick buck had begun cross-breeding, producing thousands of “inferior quality” dogs that nobody wanted.
By 2015, around two-thirds of the 3000 mastiff breeding centers had closed in Tibet. Now, the dogs are worth as little as 10,000 yuan ($1,500USD).
For the last few years, these unwanted canines have been dumped on the streets in unmanageable numbers. In the Yushu prefecture of Qinghai, they became not only a nuisance but a valid danger.
These powerful dogs can weigh up to 80 kilograms and are exceptionally loyal. As herders and guard dogs, these qualities can be useful; but as hungry animals left to wander the village streets, the dogs pose a real threat to both humans and other animals.
After myriad reports of dogs attacking people and stealing livestock, the Yushu government collaborated with a local monastery to fund a shelter for 1,000 Tibetan mastiffs. The 13-acre Surmang Namgyaltse shelter sterilized the females and gave the strays a safe place to live.
Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. The financial burden of caring for these giant dogs is enormous.
While the government helped build the shelter, there has been no further financial support. Local villagers do their best to help, donating leftover food, but the responsibility still falls on the monastery to adequately care for these animals.
There are thousands more Tibetan mastiffs throughout the region — some in shelters, others roaming the streets. Some conservationists are worried that the number of abandoned animals poses a genuine threat to the survival of the endangered snow leopard populations in the area. With overlapping habitats, the mastiffs hunt and eat the same prey species as the big cats. And sadly, a realistic and humane solution to this problem remains elusive.
They should round up as many as they can and send them here.
A Tibetan Mastiff will be the one import from China we’d be happy to have in our home.
I’m certain others here would agree!
Better for the dogs, and vital for the survival of the Snow Leopard, whose numbers are rapidly going away.
Another human-fueled nightmare. Will these horrors never end?
Any corruption should be made known to the world, otherwise we cannot say with any certainty that we will have half a chance of helping out helpless animals.
I think in the case of the tibetin dogs that there should be an increase of taxes by 2% and ALL that money goes to spay and nuetering those animals and for the feeding and all medical care these dogs need… They did not ask to be overbred us greedy humans did that all on our own so now its time for ALL the humans in YOUR country to support these animals its only fair… You created the problem so now its time dor you to pay for your greediness….that is the ONLY solution….
Bitch, nobody paid a million for a dog.
Wow… Another MAN MADE Atrocity… Not only it the Mastif in danger of being killed, now because of its presence (by human hands of course) but the Snow Leopard!!!! Sigh… Sometimes I’m embarrassed about being human.
PUNISHMENTS SHOULD BE MORE SEVERE & HARSH TOWARDS THE GREEDY PEOPLE WHO ABUSE & VIOLATE THE ANIMALS LIVES. Some people are pure evil & cruel.
WHEN will there FINALLY be a cull for the TRULY worst of, “society”?
Stupid humans…I would gladly adopt one of these beautiful dogs
Me too!
once again human stupidity and greed cause suffering to the innocent creatures with whom we share this planet. The real problem is us. Anything for a quick buck regardless of the suffering. The breeders and the buyers should be forced to fund the solution.
Greed bloody greed again. When will humans learn that we come into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing.
Stupid people with no foresight at all.
Nuclear bombs would end the monsters called the Chinese. All 1 & 1/2 billion
of the scum. What is address of organization saving these dogs? And is it
legit? Yes some people need a good killing and it is the chinese scum.
Only, not ALL of the Chinese have total contempt for the other sentient beings, and a nuke would destroy THEM as well as the worthless humans. Not to mention, the high-speed slaughterhouses, such as in the United States, aren’t much better than what they do to animals in China.
How can we adopt one from the US?
How do I get one of these dogs?
Love all these dogs, bring them to nice homes ! All these dogs need protection and homes.
Very sad.
Les Chinois sont les pires monstres de l’univers !
I have always dreamed of having a Tibetan mastiff… is it possible to adopt one?
I would love to have a female.
I agree with another poster here. Please advertise these magnificent dogs so that people in other countries can see that they are available and can transport them to good homes. I am sure many people would love to have such a great animal in their family.
Such BEAUTIFUL, loyal, majestic dogs. This has all happened due to absolutely NO fault of their own. Dear Lord PLEASE help these beautiful creatures. Perhaps people could seek factories who manufacture or somehow handle dog food and ask for the bags that may break apart or burst. Please don’t put them down.
It the situation were properly advertised, I’m sure good homes could be found in the US and Canada.
your 100% right.
All Ican say is vile and evil Chinese are the vilest of animal torturers Worldwide and they must be made to suffer for their deliberate and heinous torture and suffering they commiit against the precious and innocent dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and all the other precious and innocent animals they deliberately torture to death by the vilest of heinious torture and suffering that these Chinese monsters can commit against their defenceless and innocent victims.
And the precious Wildlife that are almost at exctinction rate because of the animal torturing Chinese fake medicinal claims and all their other fake shit.
All the vile and evil poachers and the vile and evil hunters of the precious Wildlife should all be put to death.
“Sport Hunting” is a sickness, a perversion and a danger and should be recognised as such. People who get their amusement from hunting and killing defenceless animals can only be suffering from a mental disorder, in a world with boundless opportunities for amusement, it”s detestable that anyone would choose to get thrills from killing others who ask for nothing from life but the chance to remain alive.
All these dogs need lovely homes ! Prayers that homes will be found for every one of these dogs.
Das kann man nicht machen
if this is happening in China—they will eat them and i’m sure their pricewill go up again for this size of a dog in the meat trade…shame on anyone who bred these animals…
How sickening has the human condition become to place a monetary value on a living being. Pure disgust. This is lunacy, a barbaric way of thinking that only an animal who was quite not evolved enough to receive intelligence could conjure up. I am disappointed with you humanity. Do you hear me? Do you feel me? I am extremely disappointed in your behavior. Evolve and witness the universe and existence for all that it is.. a gift.
Send one of these poor babies to me, poor things
I wish I could Maureen. I live here in the US. If there was some program in place to allow citizens of the world to adopt these guys, I would participate.
Unbelievable! There is no way there should have been an acquittal there is something really wrong with that!! Someone screwed up really bad for that puppy to not get justice. Animal cruelty laws should be very strict and written to protect the animals in every way. The offenders should not be only put in jail but given other punishment like dead animal cleanup! Protect the innocent.
I would appreciate the name of the judge that acquitted this teacher of feeding a live animal to a snapping turtle. The world has gone mad, to acquit this guy. This is not the end of this story. Please get back to me.
The rich started the problem
Now they need to help clean it up.
Support the dogs.
They are the innocent victim’s
Of GREED!!!
Treat all people and all animals exactly how you want to be treated. Kindness and compassion are cool!
Treat all people and all animals exactly how you want to be treated. Kindness and compassion are cool!
Perhaps there is a way to get some of these dogs to the US. I think many people would be interested in adopting them. The Chinese have the same problem we do in the US…once some people have no use for an animal or it becomes inconvenient, they throw it away without a care as to its welfare.
Man and his greed are at the root of all evil! Animals suffer and die because of it!
We must not be complacent and speak up every chance we get!!
Poor dogs just more victins of mankind
The Chinese elite are the THROW AWAY people of the world. They use everything up be it alive or manufactured and get rid of it with no respect for life..
Chinese elite are the THROW AWAY PEOPLE of the world. They use it up and throw it away. It doesn’t seem to matter if it lives and breaths.
Let’s donate to the Rescue orgs. in Tibet — also, let adopt out of the country as many dogs as possible into loving situations, whether fosters and/or permanent — whatever we do, we MUST NOT turn a blind eye — let’s help the dogs, leg’s help Tibet, let’s help the world.
I agree. I was thinking the same thing!
Please try and send whatever you can afford to the Surmang Namgyaltse Shelter. Your donation will help to feed these unfortunate dogs. This is a man made catastrophe not an animal one.
I’m hoping they don’t end up in the dog meat trade.that would be horrific !
OF COURSE THEY WILL JUST EAT THEM. TIE EM UPSIDE DOWN AND HAVE 3 MEN HOLD MASSIVE BLOW TORCHES TO THEM. OR HOW ABOUT THROWING THEM ALIVE INTO A LARGE VAT OF BOILING OIL OR WATER AND WATCH THEM SCREAM IN AGONY. OR HEY,…ANOTHER ONE IS SKINNING ALIVE AND WATCHING THEM WALK AROUND IN SHOCK AND AGONIZING PAIN. THIS IS CHINA!!!!! NO REGARD FOR ANY LIVING BEING. COMPASSION IS NOT IN THEIR VOCABULARY. CHINA,…THE MOST VILE, DISGUSTING, HORRENDOUS, COMPASSIONLESS, PIECES OF GARBAGE THAT LIVES ON THIS EARTH. THEY MAKE ME SICK WITH DISGUST. CHINA,…JUST LIFTED A 20 SOMETHING YEAR BAN ON RHINO HORNS AND TIGER PARTS. CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE THAT. SO IT IS AOK WITH THEM TO DESIMATE THESE SPECIES. FUCK YOU CHINA!!!!! THESE ARE ALL OUR ANIMALS. ALL SO THOSE RICH BASTARDS CAN FINALLY GET THE HARD ON THEY HAVE ALWAYS WANTED BUT CAN STILL NEVER ACHIEVE. ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC AND THEY DESERVE THEIR REPUTATION….THE MOST HATED COUNTRY,….IN THE WORLD!!!! THEY MAKE ME SICK WITH DISGUST!!!!!
Rena Van Steele I agree with you all the way. I hate and despise the animal torturing Chinese race.
The vile and evil animal torturing Chinese are known as the vilest of heinous animal torture and suffering Worldwide. They are the filth on our planet earth.
All the vile and evil animal torturing Chinese filth on our planet must be put to death by the same unimaginable heinous animal torture and suffering they commit against the innocent and helpless dogs, puppies, cats and kittens and all the other precious animals they heinously torture to death.
Just take note of the heinous deliberate animal torture they commit against the precious and innocent bears for consumption. They cut off their paws for Paw Soup and then they drop these innocent bears into a vat of boiling water until they die in excruciating agony. All these unimaginable heinous atrocities committed while these beautiful and precious Bears are alive. How would these vile and evil Chinese animal torturing monsters like to die in excruiciating agony until these arseholes take their last agonizing breath the same as all their innocent victims?
It is about time these animal torturing Chinese monsters were blown off the planet. They are the monsters on our planet who are responsible for the horrible deaths of the precious Wildlife in Africa and anywhere else they can kill the innocent for their fake medicinal claims and all their other fake shit
These Chinese monsters are causing the extinction off all our beautiful Wildlife worldwide. So kill the Chinese monsters before all our precious Wildlife become extinct.
People are SHIT. No two ways sbout it.I am ashamed to be part of the same species.
I agree.
Agreed as well. 🙁
It kind of makes you wonder what would happen if the tables were turned.
Disgusting.
See how quickly the rich tire of things. They just go onto the next thing to make them happy until they tire of that. Shame on them.
Precisely right. Animals, poor people, the landfill, the environment( I could go on and on) bear the brunt of rich people’s whims. It is heartbreaking and discouraging.
Typical Humans dumping these poor dogs i hope a humane solution will be found soon to help
Once again, human greed has caused the suffering of these unwanted dog and also threatens wild living beings. Shame on the breeders..
That is unbelievably sad!!