Not even the Middle Kingdom’s mascot is safe from Chinese counterfeit rings.
A zoo in China sparked all out panda-monium after they dressed dogs as pandas because they didn’t have the genuine artifact, as seen in viral photos.
The fake pandas, unveiled May 1 at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province, were actually Chow Chow dogs — a big-haired breed from Northern China, Jam Press reported.
Zoo officials reportedly trimmed their mane and dyed their faces black to look like China’s iconic bamboo-eating bear.
They then put the so-called “panda dogs” on display in an enclosure every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., attracting throngs of people despite the obvious bamboo-zlement, per the sanctuary’s staffers.
When asked why they had the canines engage in panda cosplay, a rep explained, “There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result.”
Many visitors accused the sanctuary of animal cruelty; however, zoo officials insist that the dogfishing scheme isn’t harmful to the animals.
“People also dye their hair,” rationalized the spokesperson. “Natural dye can be used on dogs if they have long fur.”
Many social media users were on board with these canines in panda’s clothing with one fan writing, “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.” [sic]
Giving dogs panda makeovers is nothing new. A decade ago, pups dressed as the bamboo-eating bears became such a haute item that pet stores couldn’t meet the demand.
“Ten years ago the natural instinct of a Chinese person was to eat a dog,” Hsin Ch’en, a pet shop owner in Chengdu, Sichuan, told London’s Metro newspaper. “Now we are like Westerners and want one as a companion. The cute breeds like French bulldogs and labradors were the favorites, but now it is the panda dog.”
