Chinese Zoo Criticized for Painting Dogs to Resemble Tigers

The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom admitted to dyeing Chow Chows as part of a promotional gimmick, raising animal welfare concerns.

The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom in Taizhou, China, painted Chow Chow dogs orange and black to resemble tigers, sparking public backlash.
Footage of the painted dogs in wooden enclosures circulated on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, with many viewers expressing outrage over the practice.
Zoo officials admitted the dyeing was a promotional stunt but insisted the dye used was safe and professionally applied, posing no harm to the animals.
This is not the first instance of such behavior; the same zoo previously dyed dogs to mimic pandas, and other Chinese zoos have faced similar accusations.
Critics have raised concerns about animal welfare and visitor deception, with some calling for stricter regulations on such practices in zoos.