An abandoned eight-year-old Shiba Inu dog from a pet shelter was recently sold for 160,000 yuan which makes $25,000 in an auction in China. The opening price for the dog when the auction started was 500 yuan (US$78), but it generated more than expected interest from the public as 100,000+ people came to attend the event online, while 480 bidders were present.
The Chaoyang District Court in Beijing took the responsibility for the Shiba Inu dog from the shelter where it was abandoned for 7 years, as its owner failed to look after its foster care cost. The eight-year-old dog is named Deng Deng, and it was left at the Beijing Chong Hui Pet School 7 years ago by its owner, in 2014.
The center made a Weibo account for Deng Deng before the action that read, “I have been waiting for my owner for seven years. I grew from a little dog to a middle-aged dog. I am lonely. I want to find a home for myself. I like to eat. I am healthy and obedient. Is there any kind-hearted brother or sister who wants to be my new owner?”
Initially, the owner of the Shiba Inu dog did pay 1 year worth of foster care to the pet care facility when he first dropped Deng Deng off but failed to get him back a year later or pay for his foster care in the later years. A judge’s ruling in 2017 ordered the owner to collect Deng Deng and pay back the pet center for their costs, but the owner again failed.
Shiba Inu is a dog breed from Japan that became popular internationally after a few internet memes. The doge meme, which was based on Kabosu the Shiba Inu dog, resulted in the widespread popularity of the breed and later on was also used as an inspiration for both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu cryptocurrencies that are worth more than $70 billion. The dog Kabosu behind the dog meme turned 16 years old, a few days ago.