On June 28 this year, a harrowing incident of dog abuse occurred in Jieyang, Guangdong, sparking a significant rights protection movement. However, activists in China have faced repression, while those overseas continue to support the cause. Recently, a dog rescue organization in Beijing has accused Xiaohongshu, a popular social media platform, of “platform hegemony,” which has drawn significant public attention.
The well-known grassroots stray dog rescue organization and pet adoption public figure, “Adopt a Little Shop,” took to social media on November 10 to express their grievances against Xiaohongshu. They claimed that the platform’s system had barred them from contacting potential adopters. Customer service and marketing teams at Xiaohongshu reportedly stated that in order to share contact information, one must first deposit 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,400) in advertising fees. This was just the beginning of their challenges; even funds raised through fan donations were said to have been withheld by Xiaohongshu, leaving the organization with nothing.
In regards to the donations, the blogger stated, “We’ve done several live streams where fans generously contributed a significant amount. Altogether, we collected 180,000 yuan worth of virtual gifts. But Xiaohongshu has not given us any of it. The funds should have been automatically converted into marketing revenue but, since we began hosting these live streams, we have seen nothing. This means that all the support from our fans is being taken by Xiaohongshu. When I contacted customer service, they assured me that we would see the funds after three working days at a rate of 250:1, but this has not happened.”
The “Adopt a Little Shop” organization is also questioning the destination of the donations, raising concerns amongst their supporters.
Following the release of this statement, discussions began circulating on various social media platforms. As of the latest updates, Xiaohongshu has yet to provide a public response to this incident.
“Adopt a Little Shop” is an established account on Xiaohongshu with a significant following across multiple social media platforms and on e-commerce sites like Taobao. Once news of their predicament surfaced, numerous animal protection organizations and compassionate individuals began sharing and expressing their support.
According to a report from Hong Kong’s “Sing Tao Daily,” “Adopt a Little Shop” issued a response on Weibo, noting that the situation for animal adoption has become increasingly severe. They currently have over 700 dogs and are facing operational pressures at two bases, which far exceed their capacity. As a result, they have had to halt new rescues and focus on strengthening their adoption efforts. The barriers imposed by Xiaohongshu in connecting with potential adopters have stirred further outrage.
The founder of “Adopt a Little Shop,” known as “Old Ke” or Chris Barden, is an American graduate from Yale University’s History Department. He came to China years ago as a freelance writer, engaging in translation and scriptwriting. On April 15, 2011, he participated in a significant rescue operation on the Beijing-Harbin Expressway, where around 500 dogs were slated for slaughter. He and his friends ran a pet hospital that took in 89 sick and injured dogs from that incident, prompting him to rent a yard in the outskirts of Beijing to provide shelter for those dogs that remained unadopted.
“Adopt a Little Shop” primarily focuses on rescuing local stray dogs, but they also take in a small number of cats for adoption by residents in both Beijing and overseas, specifically in the United States and Canada.