Dog With Tattoos at China Pet Expo
Banned Amid "Animal Abuse" Controversy
A dog covered in tattoos all over its body appeared at Asia's largest pet expo held in Shanghai, China, sparking controversy over animal abuse. The dog's owner further fueled public outrage by boasting that the tattoos were done without anesthesia.
On the 27th (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a dog owner attended the recently held expo with a pet dog whose entire body was tattooed with a dragon. The dog is a hairless breed from Mexico. Adorned with flashy tattoos, a gold necklace, and a wristwatch, the dog resembled a gangster.
The owner encouraged visitors to take photos and claimed, "No anesthesia was used during the tattoo procedure." He reportedly lifted the dog's scruff, saying, "The dog doesn't feel any pain," and "It doesn't feel anything at all."
A dog covered in tattoos all over its body appeared at Asia's largest pet expo held in Shanghai, China, sparking controversy. Photo by Red Note, a Chinese SNS platform.
However, one eyewitness at the scene said, "The dog looked terrified the entire time." Another witness stated, "Even when other booth operators offered treats, the dog refused to eat." There were also claims that wounds were observed on the dog's leg.
After images of the dog were released on social networking services (SNS), local internet users expressed outrage, calling it 'animal abuse.' Local users criticized, "There's no way it doesn't hurt," "Just because it can't speak doesn't mean it doesn't feel pain. This is clearly abuse," and "The owner is inhumane."
As complaints from users flooded in, the expo organizers banned the owner from entering the venue. The tattoo artist, who was reported to have tattooed the dog, told Chinese media that the procedure was performed in June last year at the owner's request. He said, "At first, I refused, but I proceeded with the tattoo after the owner's persistent requests." He added, "At the time, I didn't consider it abuse, but I was concerned about the recovery process."
He explained, "I used disposable tools and discarded them immediately after the procedure," and "A liquid anesthesia injection was administered, and disinfection was carried out under the guidance of a veterinarian." He also said, "If I caused any harm, I sincerely apologize," and "It was not my intention."
Another tattoo artist expressed disbelief that a dog could endure repeated needle pricks, pointing out, "Areas with thin skin and little fat or muscle, such as the wrist, have densely packed nerves, making the procedure much more painful."
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