Last year, a woman identified only as Ms. Wang from China adopted what she thought was a Japanese Spitz. The little pup completely stole her heart over the course of the next few months, and she was very happy with him. One year after adopting the animal, however, Ms. Wang learned that he was not what she thought he was.

Ms. Wang soon started to notice that the puppy’s features were changing.

“The fur got thicker when it reached three months old,” she explained. “Its face became pointy and its tail grew longer than that of a normal dog. Other pet dogs seemed to be scared by my pet, so I walked it on a leash.”

Ms. Wang brought her pet to the zoo to ask staffers there for help. As soon as one worker laid eyes on the animal, he knew immediately that it was a fox.

“Based on the size, it is a domesticated fox,” the worker said. “It carries a smell in their body and the smell can get stronger as it grows older.”

It turns out that this happens a lot more in Asia than you would think. Many pet shops on the continent sell foxes as pets, and though some are honest about their identity, others try and pass them off as dogs.

Despite what has happened, Ms. Wang still loved her pet and wanted him to have a good life. That’s why she decided to hand him over to the zoo, as she knew that he would get the best care available there. At this zoo, the fox gets a proper diet, medical attention, and the opportunity to socialize with other foxes.

We’re glad that this fox is now somewhere that he can get all the care that he deserves!