NEW DELHI: Two dogs with panda-like coats confused netizens when the video of a zoo in China went viral online on May 1. The netizens asked whether “panda dog” was a real breed.
According to The Strait Times, the “panda dogs” are a breed of dog called “chow chow” that have been groomed and dyed to look like giant pandas.
The Zoo kept the visitors informed about the ‘panda dogs’ as they put up the information board in front of the enclosure at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province telling that panda dogs are not an actual dog breed.
They are rather pet dogs that have been groomed to look like pandas or were born with coat patterns similar to those of pandas. On the video several anonymous users commented, “They are very small to run that fast! I think they’re lovely.”
“I think they’re cute,” said another.
A third quipped, “Well that’s an extreme way to get your dogs cared for while you’re at work lol.”
While these panda dogs captured some netizens heart, certain visitors accused the sanctuary of animal cruelty.
Although resembling giant pandas, some observers noticed peculiar behavior, including head shaking, prompting widespread outrage when visitors discovered they were observing chow-chow dogs instead of pandas.
Nevertheless, the zoo defended its choice to exhibit painted dogs instead of pandas, asserting that the dye used on the chow-chow dogs was non-harmful and consisted of non-toxic substances.
An employee at the zoo informed a local news outlet, Jiangsu News, that the initiative was aimed at increasing visitor numbers and enhancing the enjoyment of the zoo experience. He explained that the zoo had not yet introduced actual pandas due to space constraints, as the facility was too small to accommodate a giant panda enclosure.
In 2016, Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) investigated a similar case involving three chow chows in the country that were dyed to resemble pandas. The owner had started a service renting out the pure-bred dogs for photo shoots but denied any cruelty. AVA stated at the time that it was examining the situation to ensure animal welfare was not compromised, but also noted that the use of safe, non-toxic food dyes was unlikely to harm the dogs, reported The Strait Times.
According to The Strait Times, the “panda dogs” are a breed of dog called “chow chow” that have been groomed and dyed to look like giant pandas.
The Zoo kept the visitors informed about the ‘panda dogs’ as they put up the information board in front of the enclosure at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province telling that panda dogs are not an actual dog breed.
They are rather pet dogs that have been groomed to look like pandas or were born with coat patterns similar to those of pandas. On the video several anonymous users commented, “They are very small to run that fast! I think they’re lovely.”
“I think they’re cute,” said another.
A third quipped, “Well that’s an extreme way to get your dogs cared for while you’re at work lol.”
While these panda dogs captured some netizens heart, certain visitors accused the sanctuary of animal cruelty.
Although resembling giant pandas, some observers noticed peculiar behavior, including head shaking, prompting widespread outrage when visitors discovered they were observing chow-chow dogs instead of pandas.
Nevertheless, the zoo defended its choice to exhibit painted dogs instead of pandas, asserting that the dye used on the chow-chow dogs was non-harmful and consisted of non-toxic substances.
An employee at the zoo informed a local news outlet, Jiangsu News, that the initiative was aimed at increasing visitor numbers and enhancing the enjoyment of the zoo experience. He explained that the zoo had not yet introduced actual pandas due to space constraints, as the facility was too small to accommodate a giant panda enclosure.
In 2016, Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) investigated a similar case involving three chow chows in the country that were dyed to resemble pandas. The owner had started a service renting out the pure-bred dogs for photo shoots but denied any cruelty. AVA stated at the time that it was examining the situation to ensure animal welfare was not compromised, but also noted that the use of safe, non-toxic food dyes was unlikely to harm the dogs, reported The Strait Times.
