A Chinese zoo has come under fire after painting Chow Chows breed dogs to resemble pandas, causing an outcry among visitors.
A YouTube video showed puppies with black markings on their ears, legs, and distinctive dark circles around their eyes, which initially seemed panda-like but their panting and behaviour raised suspicions.
When confronted, the zoo admitted to dyeing a breed of dog known for its thick fur, to imitate pandas. However, the zoo maintained that they did not deceive visitors, claiming the animals were advertised as “panda dogs.”
The controversy has led to demands for refunds at the Guangdong Shanwei Zoo, which advertises itself as featuring “rare and exotic animals.”
This follows a similar incident in May at Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province, where Chow Chows were also dyed and groomed to look like pandas.
It faced backlash for alleged animal cruelty, though they defended the act by stating they had no real pandas and the “panda dogs” were an alternative attraction.
“A lot of people are coming to visit them and you need to queue up. There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result. You can see them from between 8.30 am and 5 pm,” the zoo spokesperson stated.
Addressing the animal cruelty claims, the spokesperson added, “People also dye their hair. Natural dye can be used on dogs if they have long fur.”
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