HONG KONG — The theft of dogs, often to be resold as meat, is a sad reality for people with pets in China. But the theft of one 7-year-old black Labrador in Beijing on Monday has provoked an unusual outcry.

The dog, Qiaoqiao, is no average pet. She was trained as a guide dog and has spent the past six years as a companion to Tian Fengbo, a 47-year-old blind man who lives in a village on the outskirts of the Chinese capital.

Mr. Tian has worked as a masseur, a common occupation for blind people in China, and now operates a massage parlor chain. He had left Qiaoqiao at one of his outlets overnight. An assistant was walking the dog Monday morning when men in a gray van stole her. Neighbors told The Beijing Morning News that the village had had a rash of dog thefts in recent days.

Mr. Tian said he had barely eaten or slept since his companion was taken.

“I lost my sight in an accident and have been through many difficulties. But now that Qiaoqiao is gone, I feel like there is something very heavy blocking my chest,” Mr. Tian said. “Qiaoqiao always accompanied me. She was like a friend to me. Now I feel like I’ve lost a close friend.”