Just like that, the fad in China revolving around giant Tibetan mastiff dogs was put to sleep, with the furry animals being sold to slaughterhouses and following suit as well.

For a while, Tibetan mastiffs were a status symbol for the rich in China. At one point in time, these dogs could cost as much as $200,000. Much like expensive sports cars, owning one meant that a person was part of the Chinese elite.

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However, along with the country's rapidly shifting luxury spending habits came the waning interest in these dogs. Instead of being cherished, they are now being done away with by being sold to slaughterhouses for as little as $15 per head, reports the New York Times.

The same report says that the reddish brown dog that lumbers around but also has the capability to shepherd was bred to protect families in the Himalayan region. Only two years ago, it was a prize for any Chinese family to own.

Today though, the importance in these animals has gone like the ebb and flow of the tide.

Owners and breeders are now scrambling to sell off their Tibetan mastiffs as the Chinese people take a break from large spending in light of the new anti-corruption crackdowns.

One man working for a Chinese breeder has been taking care of a couple of Tibetan mastiffs outside a hotel in Tongxiang city in east China's Zeijang province.

The pair were recently sold to a property developer who paid 18 million yuan ($3 million) for them. It was fortunate that they were bought out at such a large price.

Others of the same breed are not so fortunate to find new homes in China. Instead, they are put to sleep permanently.

The New York Times report also states that a group of Beijing animal rights activists has saved as many as 150 dogs that were supposed to be sent to the slaughterhouses.

If the dogs were successfully sent there, they would be turned into ingredients for hotpot, imitation leather, and even lining for winter gloves. 

TagsTibetan Mastiff