The Taizhou Zoo, located in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, sparked a wave of criticism for animal abuse. It was discovered that they were promoting two chow-chow dogs painted as “big and especially wild tigers“.
This incident was exposed by a viral video on the Douyin platform, equivalent to TikTok, which generated outrage among social media users.
A controversial strategy
The zoo’s management admitted that the animals were dogs dyed with orange and black colors, and defended this action as an “harmless advertising strategy”.
Officials stated that natural dye was used and compared the practice to the human habit of dyeing hair, stating that it did not pose a risk to the animals’ health.
However, the justifications have not convinced the public, who described the act as ridiculous and insulting. “China already tried it once. Why did they think it would work this time?” commented a user on social media, highlighting the widespread frustration.
A history of controversies: dogs painted as pandas
This is not the first time this zoo has faced criticism for similar deceptions and animal abuse.
Last year, officials painted chow-chow dogs in black and white to make them pass as pandas, calling them “panda dogs” and exhibiting them daily to attract visitors during the May holidays.
This event also sparked controversy, with some visitors demanding a refund of their tickets after discovering the deception.
Reactions and reflections
The new incident has highlighted the questionable practices of certain zoos in China, which resort to unethical methods to attract visitors.
International animal rights organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have spoken out in the past against the trend of dyeing pets’ fur.
Through an article, PETA reminded the public that dogs are not things but individuals who deserve love and respect, not to be “dyed, pierced, tattooed, mutilated, or modified” to meet human aesthetic preferences.
Cover photo: X
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