Woman who transforms her dogs into pandas for photoshoots meets controversy
In Singapore, entrepreneur Meng Jiang dyed her three fluffy Chow Chows to look strikingly like Pandas, and when people started stopping her on the street to snap photos, she had an idea.
Video: Polar bears and dogs playing
That’s how Panda Chow Chows, a new business where clients can schedule photo shoots with the trio of pooches, was established.
Although she’s only been in business about a month, Meng has already been confronted with her fair share of controversy. Upon posting photos on Facebook, some commenters loved the Panda impersonators, while others pointed fingers at the owner, claiming animal cruelty.
Meng is certainly not the first to color her canines. Some pet salons offer dying services, and there are even special pet dyes available for consumer purchase.
In regards to painting her own pooches, the Chow Chow mom not only speaks to the dye’s safety–it is carefully applied by a professional with a market-approved, organic dye–but claims that the dogs love their new look.
Chow Chow Yumi was the first to dawn the new ‘do.
“Yumi loved it and TouDou and DouDou were really jealous of her, so we tried it with them and they all had a new level of energy after it was done,” said Meng said in an article by Channel News Asia.
Meanwhile, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is not so convinced.
“Animals have natural coats and should be appreciated for what they are, rather than trying to alter them artificially…There are also potential side effects with no benefits to the animals, it can be physically harmful and subject the animal to stress in the process,” said SPCA Acting Executive Director Dr. Jaipal Singh Gil in the article.
Meng has a few words for the critics who say she’s objectifying her pets.
“Is this the same immorality that parents who turn their children into child models and actors display? If you watch the TV you indirectly already support child actors through your viewing figures (ratings) and TV advertising revenue,” she said in the article.
And to those who claim cruelty?
“Let’s get some proportionality here: Being cruel to a dog is locking it up all day so it gets no exercise, starving a dog to death, not cleaning up after it and letting it live in its own filth- being cruel to a dog is beating it, not dyeing your dog with 100 per cent organic product,” she said in the article.
The Panda Chow Chows founder also added that her dogs live in a spacious 35,000 square food home, and are treated to air-conditioning, multiple daily walks, and the best pet food available.
Meng’s final, fiery words on the subject?
“If after reading all of this, you can still not bring your ‘moral crusade’ to a logical argument and conclusion, then when you see us walking the dogs around Singapore, don’t be a hypocrite and come over to take personal photos with them and try to stroke them and play with our dogs. Hypocrites are not welcome to do so,” she said in the article.
What do you think? Adorable or abusive? Share your thoughts with us!
Video: dog into girl 2
(Feature images adapted from the Chow Chow Pandas Facebook page.)