Overview
- Field teams from Dogs of Chernobyl encountered at least three dogs with bright blue fur during an Oct. 5–13 visit to the exclusion zone.
- The veterinary director says the most plausible source is blue deodorizer from an old portable toilet near where the dogs were seen, though this remains unconfirmed.
- Repeated efforts to catch the animals were unsuccessful because the dogs are highly fearful and would likely need blow-dart sedation.
- The organization stresses the discoloration is not related to radiation and is expected to be mostly harmless unless large amounts are ingested.
- Images circulating online fueled speculation about filters, AI, or radiation, and the Clean Futures Fund rejected claims that the photos were manipulated.