Recently, Jiangsu Taizhou Zoo has put on display two “panda dogs”, which look like pandas but are actually small dogs dyed to resemble them. The zoo’s move has been criticized by the public as “mislabeling dogs as pandas” and is accused of false advertising.
According to mainland media reports, Taizhou Zoo promoted a “panda dog” meet-and-greet event on their tickets to attract visitors. Some visitors discovered two four-legged animals in the exhibition area that were much smaller in size compared to pandas.
The zoo’s introduction on the side mentioned: “Panda dogs are not a specific purebred dog, but a type of pet dog that resembles pandas in appearance. This term is commonly used to describe dogs that have been trimmed into specific styles or have natural fur color distributions similar to pandas. Their typical features include white fur with black markings, especially around the eyes and ears, mimicking the facial features of giant pandas.”
A video circulating online shows that visitors were discussing in groups regarding these two four-legged animals. Some say that these are fake pandas.
The zoo’s staff stated that the two “panda dogs” are actually Chow Chow dogs dyed to look like pandas, named “Xiao Tang Bao” and “Xiao Gan Si”, and have been on display to the public since May 1st.
Visiting the “panda dogs” does not require an additional fee; the cost is included in the zoo’s entrance ticket. Adult tickets are priced at 20 Chinese Yuan, children above 1.4 meters are charged 10 Yuan, and children below 1.4 meters can enter for free.
Despite public criticism of the zoo’s deception, the municipal regulatory authority in Taizhou claimed that the zoo did not label the “panda dogs” as pandas, therefore it does not involve deception, but rather a marketing tactic of a zoo that does not have the qualifications to introduce pandas.
Regarding why the zoo chose to exhibit “panda dogs”, the staff mentioned that there are no giant pandas in the zoo, so they wanted to fill the void. Currently, there are many visitors, and long queues are seen. The display can be viewed from 8:30 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.
The staff mentioned that these two “panda dogs” were dyed upon entry to the zoo. As for whether they will continue to be exhibited as “panda dogs” or be renamed as Chow Chow dogs, that decision will be made by the leadership.
Chow Chow dogs originate from northern China and are one of the oldest dog breeds, named after their lion-like heads. Previously, in Sichuan, there was also a pet café that dyed Chow Chow dogs to look like pandas to attract customers.
In a previous report by Epoch Times, in 2019 in Chengdu, Sichuan, a pet café named “Candy Planet” showcased six Chow Chow dogs successfully transformed into pandas. These knockoff panda dogs were dyed in black and white stripes, allowing customers to appreciate and take photos of them while they sat or lay down in the shop.
The café also offered a service to dye customers’ pet dogs to look like pandas, charging 1,500 Yuan per dog.
Some netizens condemned the café, stating that dyeing dogs is tantamount to mistreating them, while others labeled it as a sensational stunt.