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Zoo defends ‘panda’ exhibit after criticism for using dogs dyed black and white (www.unilad.com)

submitted 6 months ago by Viking_Hippie to c/nottheonion

40 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/11618175

Zoo defends ‘panda’ exhibit after criticism for using dogs dyed black and white

On May 1, the zoo drew large crowds of excited animal lovers as it prepared to unveil a new attraction.

When the zoo revealed the animals, visitors were met with the sight of little four-legged creatures, with white faces and black spots around their eyes and ears - not unlike the colorings of a panda.

The only thing is, these creatures weren't pandas. In fact, they were Chow Chows - a dog you might recognize from real life or social media, since they're very much the opposite of a wild animal.

The spitz-type dogs originally come from northern China, and were presented at the zoo because the owners said they didn't have any actual pandas to show visitors.

The owners were accused of trimming and dying the dogs to look like pandas, causing some backlash as locals accused the zoo of animal cruelty.

However, a spokesperson for the zoo hit back at the criticism as they pointed out that 'people also dye their hair'.

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Honestly probably less cruel than keeping pandas in a cage. Dogs are domesticated and kinda used to having their freedom of movement restricted.

[–] Crackhappy 29 points 6 months ago

And honestly they're fucking adorable like that.

[–] cm0002 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Yea, dishonest sure, but animal cruelty is a bit of a stretch. Especially if they used appropriate animal dye and didn't just grab a couple cans of spray paint from Lowe's or something

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

It’s a shady zoo in China… I’m pretty confident they didn’t use animal-approved hair dye hahaha

[+] [email protected] -13 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Dogs can be caged because we enslaved their ancestors and restricted their reproductive choices for milennia? If we bred cows that wanted to be eaten, would that make their meat ethical? If you believe that, I've got a restaurant at the end of the universe to sell you.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I didnt say it that its not cruel to cage dogs. I said its less cruel than caging a panda because they are more used to it.

I dont know if its fair to call it that, but dogs are probably still pretty "sad" about sitting inside doing nothing all day, especially when they are alone. If you have ever lived with a farm dog that was free to go out and wherever it wants 24/7 by itself, then indoor "incarcerated" dogs will seem like an empty shell to you.

[–] Entropywins 5 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Upvote for the hitchhikers guide reference!!!

I don't know how accurate enslaving wolves is, though. It very well could have been a mutually beneficial relationship at the beginning.

[–] Soggy 1 points 6 months ago

It's a mutually beneficial relationship now, assuming responsible ownership. And excluding brachycephalic breeds, other predictable and preventable genetic illnesses or predispositions to injury, and other stuff that could reasonably be lumped into "responsible ownership" but deserve special recognition.

But yeah, dogs are happy as shit when they get to do the thing's we've bred them to do.