Residents in China experienced fright when they confused a pink-skinned stray dog for either a genetically modified pig that had escaped or a mini-horse with an unusual color.
The unusual dog was seen wandering the streets of Xinxiang, located in the Henan province of central China, causing concern that it had fled from a nearby medical research facility.
With its peculiar skin color and lack of fur, many onlookers speculated that it might be a rare breed of mutant pig.
Nonetheless, due to its white patches of hair, distinctive posture, and feathery tail, the odd canine could also be mistaken for a miniature horse.
One bystander remarked, “The pink skin makes it resemble a pig that has gone wrong due to some genetic experiment.”
However, authorities have refuted claims that the creature is part of any genetic experiment, confirming it is a breed recognized as a Chinese crested hairless dog.
“A dog it certainly is, and quite an expensive one at that,” stated a spokesperson.
This peculiar breed often competes in the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest held in California.