Columbo the Panda Dog

You're all going to go aww... at the sight of little Columbo. Don't believe me? Here, this is Columbo:

Little Columbo is actually half poodle and half Maltese, dyed to look like a panda. But unlike 'fashion grooming' that I highlighted about in my last post, Little Columbo here was coloured for a different reason - to cover up stained fur. How does fur get stained? Well all dogs tear (there are reasons for it but I'll talk about that next time), but the smaller toy breeds like the Maltese, poodle and Shih Tzu more than others. So when a dog tears, you have to wipe it away for them or it will eat into the coat, stain, lead to eye infections and look quite horrible - the effects of staining are more prominent in lighter coat dogs and since little Columbo was a fully white one and he was an abandoned dog, he didn't have anyone to wipe his tears (literally) and the stains would have been hideous.

Little Columbo was adopted by Kensuke Hirakawa, given a new home, a new family and a new look (that served more as reconstructive surgery than fashion). He's very popular in his neighbourhood back in Japan and I think he deserves all the attention*. He's like a 'spokes-canine' for all his abandoned canine friends because his popularity helps create awareness about strays and how much they need a home.

Columbo says with each little trot, "Strays and mix-breeds can be breath-takingly beautiful too! We can make you the envy of the neighbourhood!"

Watch Columbo on the streets of his hometown Tokyo:

Note: Please remember that Colombo's owner coloured him to cover up the eye stains and effects on his coat left behind by the eye infection. It's not for fashion.

*FACT:

1. Columbo was rescued by his current owner from being put down.
2. He had endured abuse prior to his adoption
3. The abuse left him traumatized and therefore aggressive and loud (non-stop barking).
4. His hind leg had been broken before so it is stiff
5. He has NO canine teeth because its previous owners had extracted them to prevent him from biting.
6. He is not a pedigree, he is a mix of Poodle and Maltese.
7. He first turned panda in 2005
8. The dye lasts for about a month only before a touch up or rework is needed.