A Chinese restaurateur accused of killing dogs to make his speciality hotpot handed himself into police after the owner of one of the animals chased him in his car, local media reported.

The man, surnamed Du, used a crossbow to shoot the animals from his car, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported on Sunday. When he and his wife were hunting in Yichang, central China’s Hubei province on Wednesday morning the owner of one of the animals spotted them and gave chase.

The report did not provide full details of what happened next, but said the two vehicles collided, and Du and his wife fled on foot.

When police arrived at the scene they discovered the bodies of eight dogs in the boot of Du’s car, the report said.

Du was quoted as saying that dog-meat hotpot was a signature dish at his restaurant, and that he and his wife had set off about 4am to hunt for animals to make it.