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Café dyes dogs to make them look like pandas, angers people

As video of dogs dyed as pandas was shared online and it prompted people to accuse the place of ill-treating animals.

Updated on: Oct 25, 2019, 14:21:50 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
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A Chinese café is facing widespread backlash from netizens because of the ‘pandas’ that roam around in the place. The outrages poured in when people realised that the black and white cuddly animals at the café are not pandas but dogs dyed to look like the former. This prompted people to accuse the place of ill-treating animals.

People realised that the black and white cuddly animals at the café are not pandas but dogs dyed to look like the former. (Facebook/People’s Daily, China)
People realised that the black and white cuddly animals at the café are not pandas but dogs dyed to look like the former. (Facebook/People’s Daily, China)

The controversy sparked when People’s Daily China took to Facebook to share a video of the dogs dyed as pandas. The video shows two dogs running around who look very similar to pandas – as many pointed.

“The cafeteria purchased the dogs last month,” informed the caption shared along with the video. “The coffeehouse has witnessed dramatic growth since a video of the coffeehouse and its “pandas” went viral on social media,” further adding.

Though there are some who welcomed this marketing idea, most were furious and argued that this would harm the animal’s health.

“Dyeing animals is not recommended in general, as it may cause hair and skin damage,” the post concludes by citing a quote from a veterinarian.

Take a look at the video:

“Every time we dye it costs 1,500 Yuan [$211; £163]. The dye is really expensive,” the owner said to the BBC while defending the move. Further adding, the good quality doesn’t harm the animals in any way.

What do you think of this café’s marketing tactics?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More