An adorable pooch 'destined to be used for meat' has gone viral after she was filmed reaching out his paw to a passer-by.
The fluffy white dog, now named Yuan Yuan, was reportedly spotted outside a meat shop in China's Jilin Province last October, when she held out her paw to someone walking past.
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The American Eskimo-Dog, which is thought to have been a stolen pet, has since been adopted and is now living her best life.
Her owner shared the clip showing the dog's rescue, while urging officials in China to introduce stricter laws to protect animals.
Posting the clip on Douyin, they said: "See how scared it was while waiting to be butchered at the dog meat store, and how hopeful it looked [while waiting for a human to save it]."
In it, poor Yuan Yuan looks unkempt and grubby as she gingerly stretches her paw out to her would-be rescuer.
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Other clips on the same account show Yuan Yuan playing with her new owner, who also claims the cute dog loves to 'smile' at people.
Wendy Higgins from animal welfare group Humane Society International (HSI) told The Daily Mail it's likely Yuan Yuan was snatched from her previous owners before being taken to Jilin.
She said: "The dog in the video responded to human kindness by offering a paw, a sure sign that this dog was almost certainly a former pet, likely stolen for the meat trade."
She went on to say the country must introduce laws to protect dogs and cats from the meat industry, adding: "That is the only way to stop them suffering."
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Commenting on the video, a Dogs Trust spokesperson told The Daily Mail: "Dogs might lift one of their paws up when they're becoming unsure about something as this can be a way for a dog to communicate they need space.
"However, if a dog has previously learnt that offering their paw to a person results in something positive happening such as receiving a treat, attention or reassurance, then they will might well offer their paw in response to someone holding out their hand."
Speaking earlier this year, ahead of the Yulin dog meat festival, Dr Peter Li, China policy specialist for Humane Society International, said: "Momentum is building in China to tackle the dog and cat meat trades, and while I don't think anyone expects Yulin's dog meat trade to close up overnight, what the activists witnessed could indicate that things are shifting even in Yulin.
"The cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai have hopefully started a trend by banning dog and cat meat, and the declaration by the national government that dogs are considered companions rather than livestock, provides a compelling incentive for other cities to follow suit.
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"I do hope Yulin will change not only for the sake of the animals, but also for the health and safety of its people.
Featured Image Credit: Douyin/@DanbaoTopics: Viral, World News, Animals, Dogs