To Dye For: The Latest Dog Cosmetic Craze

If you thought that the ridiculous winter clothes of Beijing's hounds were a step too far, then prepare to have your socks blown clean off. Beijingers have taken to dying their dogs' fur to resemble other animals. Want a pekinese-turned-panda or a terrier-turned-tiger? It's an all too real possibility. Thanks to Turkish news site Hurriyet Daily News for pointing this madness out. Catch their excellent slideshow here. And read on to find out what we've found since.

There certainly are places in Beijing that you can get your dog a dye job, but the question is: Why would you? Apparently, unscrupulous sellers do so to get more cash for canines (e.g. adding Dalmatian spots to white dogs) and some owners do it for the novelty factor. Going against nature is not without risk, though. There have been cases of skin allergies, infections, blindness and even death from such beauty treatments. That's not to mention the fact that everybody knows a bald man who claims his shiny pate is because he used to dye his hair.

Ruowen Pet Spa in Chaowai Soho is one pet grooming salon that does offer the service. The fee starts from RMB 45 and goes up to a whopping RMB 2,000; the procedure takes between an hour and a day. There is no legal qualification for pet technicians. Lee Pet also sells kits for DIY dyers.

You've been warned. However, we do recommend staking out Chaowai Soho for a good day out of possible mutant spotting.

Photo: Hurriyet Daily News