We all share special bonds with our pets, and most especially with our dogs; they’re man’s best friend, after all. People meet their dogs in many different ways, but for some, it means finding a reputable breeder. However, other people are content to adopt their dogs from shelters, even if that means they don’t know everything about them. For these folks, the rewards of rescue are well worth the potential risks they may face.
However, one woman in China found out the hard way that even shopping for a dog at a breeder’s or a pet store doesn’t guarantee you’ll know the truth about your pooch, and she’s still dealing with the consequences.
This woman, known only as Mrs. Wang, dreamed for years of finding and adopting the perfect dog. She often visited shelters and consulted with breeders, but she never really made that important connection between her and a potential pet. That all changed when she visited a pet store recommended by a friend that specialized in finding homes for Japanese Spitz dogs.
Mrs. Wang checked out their site and instantly knew she had to have one. And it’s no wonder, who wouldn’t want one of these cuties? When Mrs. Wang met one of the adorable puppies, she fell head over heels. She was excited to share pictures with her friends of the soft, furry, sweet-faced pup she’d welcomed into her life. According to reports from other outlets, Mrs. Wang paid the equivalent of $190 for this rare breed. She thought that price seemed low, but she didn’t mind or worry; after all, the breeder was recommended by a friend. But those friends quickly became concerned; sure, the puppy was cute, but it looked wild. They mentioned this to Mrs. Wang, but she brushed off their concerns; the Japanese Spitz breed was made up to resemble a fox, and that’s probably what they were picking up.
Life with her new puppy progressed, and while Mrs. Wang loved the dog very much, she was also struck by some pretty bizarre things about the puppy that she hadn’t noticed until then. For one thing, the puppy never seemed to bark. Mrs. Wang did some research and found that while some dog breeds are less vocal, the Japanese Spitz is not one of them; the only dog who barks more than that breed is the beagle. Her puppy should have been yapping up a storm.
Then there was the young puppy’s fur; the fur of a Japanese Spitz is white and very fluffy, but the coat itself isn’t very thick or heavy. While her puppy’s coat was bright and gleaming white, she noticed something strange about it; Mrs. Wang could tell her pet’s fur was coming in very thick the older he got. Still, these two facts weren’t enough to convince her something was wrong, but the next thing she discovered certainly was.
For the first three months that her new puppy lived with her, he ate happily from his dish of puppy food twice a day. But then, out of the blue, he started to refuse the food that Mrs. Wang offered him. At first, she thought maybe the puppy had simply outgrown the taste of his food and it was time to put him on a different diet. She bought him food meant for adult dogs, but the results were the same; he rejected the grub. That’s when Mrs. Wang knew that she couldn’t avoid the truth any longer; she had to get her dog to the veterinarian’s office and find out what was going on with her beloved Japanese Spitz.
When she took the dog to the veterinarian’s office, the whole team was stunned. They had suspicions about what was wrong with the puppy immediately, but they needed an expert to confirm their theory. The veterinarians called in staff members from a local zoo. The zoo employees arrived at the clinic and, after making a quick assessment of the dog, revealed the shocking truth about Mrs. Wang’s unique Japanese Spitz puppy; the dog was actually a fox.
Mrs. Wang was shocked to learn that it wasn’t entirely uncommon for shifty, fly-by-night breeders to pass off wild animals for expensive breeds. Everything began to make sense at that point. Though heartbroken, Mrs. Wang was relieved to learn that there was nothing wrong with her dog; he wasn’t behaving like a dog because he wasn’t a dog at all. But the disappointment didn’t end there; ultimately, Mrs. Wang had to surrender her beloved pet to the zoo. But she knew that they’d be able to provide the best life and diet for the fluffy little guy. It hurt, but she knew ultimately it was for the best.
Wow, can you believe someone actually managed to pull off a scheme like this one? It’s pretty outrageous. Here’s hoping that Mrs. Wang learned a valuable lesson about dog shopping.
