A pet cafe in China where dogs are dyed black and white to look like panda cubs has triggered a heated online debate over the treatment of animals.
The Cute Pet Games cafe opened last month in Chengdu, capital of southwest Sichuan province which is home to China's famous giant pandas, and features six panda-like Chow Chow dogs, according to a video posted by Hongxing News on Tuesday.
Customers were shown petting the fluffy "panda dogs." The cafe owner, only identified by his last name Huang, told Hongxing News that he had started offering pet dyeing services after the panda dogs became an instant hit with clients.
"Every time we dye it costs 1,500 yuan ($211)," Huang said. "The dye itself is very expensive."
He said it takes trained staff about a day to transform a fluffy Chow Chow dog into a "panda."