The killing of a dog and her puppies in China's Guangdong province has ignited a wave of activism among animal lovers, who are increasingly taking their fight against cruelty offline and onto the global stage due to domestic censorship.
In New York City's Times Square, a billboard displays photographs of a dog named Wang Wang, accompanied by captions such as "She was loved. She wanted to live. She should still be here." Similar displays have appeared in Taiwan, including one near the Taipei 101 skyscraper showing Wang Wang nursing her puppies, with the message "This planet is their home too. Justice for Wang Wang."
CK, a Taiwanese woman who funded one of the billboards, expressed a hope for "a sense of unity" through such public displays, allowing people to speak out collectively rather than just sharing individual opinions online. She has also utilized platforms like Reddit and X to share the animals' plight, stating, "The world need to know about the cruelty these dogs have been subject to."
Another Taiwanese activist, Elara, employed AI to translate a summary of the incident into over a dozen languages, including Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian, facilitating wider international circulation of the information. Residents in Hong Kong and Macau have organized fundraising efforts to place posters on buses and trains.
Within mainland China, the debate persists, with a significant focus on raising awareness to advocate for stronger animal cruelty laws. A cartoon depicting Wang Wang and her puppies was shown on a large screen before a football match in Dalian, displaying the message "Every life deserves respect and kindness."
Domestic businesses, including beauty brand Amortals and streetwear label Wah Yan Ching Nin, have also participated by running advertisements outside shopping malls across the country, calling for an end to animal abuse. Stickers and car decals featuring Wang Wang and her puppies have become available on China's e-commerce platform Taobao.
Online, individuals continue to rally support. Comments on Weibo encourage sustained visibility for the issue, with one user writing, "Let's keep posting. Don't let the heat of discussion cool down." Another comment emphasized the importance of consistent advocacy, stating, "Constantly speaking up does not mean disturbing social order. [We're doing this] to let more people see it and realise it's such an important thing that we do not mistreat animals."