The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has said that it is looking into the case of three chow chows which were dyed to look like pandas and put up for rental.

The Straits Times quoted the government agency on Feb. 4 that the "AVA is looking into the case to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised."

AVA added that the dogs are unlikely to be harmed by the use of safe, non-toxic food dyes.

The chow chows' owner, Meng Jiang, has written on her website to address some of these concerns.

She explained that the dogs are naturally white, and the black areas on them are dyed.

The dyes used are "non-bleaching, non chemical and non-toxic and safe for dogs".

She added: "The product we use is readily available off the shelf in Singapore and can be bought in Singapore at dog grooming salons."

However, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said they are strongly against the practice of dyeing animals' fur.

"SPCA is strongly against such a practice and would advise pet owners to refrain from altering their pet's appearance in this way, because it is unnatural and unnecessary. There are also potential side effects with no benefits to the animals - it can be physically harmful and subject the animal to stress in the process. Animals have natural coats and should be appreciated for what they are, rather than trying to alter them artificially. We are unaware of any law existing prohibiting the dyeing of pet's fur."

This view is also shared by a website under internationally-acclaimed dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.

The post titled "Dyeing your dog’s hair is a bad idea", read:

Hair dye is actually intended for human consumption only. There are no hair dyes specifically made for dogs. Officially, there are no completely safe dyes for animals, period, as there have been no studies to show if there are any long terms effects. Since there are people that have reported health problems using hair dye, it is only natural that a dog may have some of the same reactions. Their skin also may be more sensitive to the harsh chemicals, like ammonia or hydrogen peroxide, frequently found in human hair dyes.

And besides suffering from possible skin irritation and ingesting the dye as dogs lick themselves, animals in general do not have an understanding of fur dye and cosmetic changes can cause psychological distress.

Related article:

Chow Chows dyed in panda colours part of newfangled dog-rental business in S’pore

Top photo via

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.