"Did You Really Watch Avatar?"... Puppy Covered in Blue Dye

"Animal Abuse" Sparks Outrage Among Netizens

A photo of a dog dyed entirely blue on the streets of Taiwan has sparked controversy over animal abuse.

On the 9th (local time), Taiwanese actress Jin Guan-lin posted a photo of a puppy on her Facebook account. In the photo, the dog’s fur is dyed blue all over as it roams the streets. White patches, presumed to be the dog’s original fur color, are sparsely visible around its ears, eyes, snout, and paws.

Jin Guan-lin, who shared the photo, wrote, "What did I just see? How on earth does someone come up with such an idea?" and added, "Did they do this after watching the movie Avatar?"

A dog photo shared by Taiwanese actor Jin Guanlim on social networking service (SNS) / Photo by Facebook capture

Netizens who saw the photo reacted with anger, saying, "This is definitely animal abuse," "Dye is a chemical substance, so I’m worried about the dog’s health," and "The owner is irresponsible."

Animal abuse involving applying dye to animals’ bodies has also occurred domestically. In March last year, the animal rights group Animal Freedom Union shared the story of a cat rescued from an animal shelter after being covered in turquoise dye all over its body. After being rescued, the cat was immediately taken to a shelter for a bath and health check-up.

A photo of a cat posted by Animal Freedom Coalition last March / Photo by Animal Freedom Coalition

At the time, the union explained, "There is a possibility that the dye can be absorbed through the skin, and cats have a habit of licking their fur," adding, "Direct ingestion of the dye could cause health problems, making it a dangerous situation."

According to overseas pet-specialized media such as Safer Pets, unlike humans, dye is not suitable for animals’ bodies. Side effects include allergies, pain, itching, eczema, and various skin diseases. There is also a risk that animals may ingest dye components while scratching or licking themselves to relieve itching.

The distinctive smell of the dye is also problematic. Many animals identify each other through their unique scent, and if the body odor changes due to the dye, this function may be impaired.