The wily Tibetan mastiffs, known all over the world for its burly size and lion-like mane, was an instant hit among the wealthiest in Chinese society. However, the very factor which made them famous as pets, is now being considered increasingly dangerous. Due to this reason, they are now being abandoned by their masters.
About 10 years ago in China, owning a Tibetan mastiff became synonymous with prosperity. Those who were quick to call Tibetan mastiffs as “The Dog God” did not anticipate the hectic breeding which were eventually to come. Some even shelled out almost 18 million yuans just to acquire this exotic breed. In April last year, a documentary called Abandoned Tibetan Mastiffs showed hundreds of Tibetan mastiffs running uncontrolled on the streets, some abandoned, some raised by the street from the very beginning.
Now that the interest in the exotic pet has waned, people who did not view these pets as threats before are now looking at it from a different vantage point. The increasing number of mastiffs on the street has also led to horrifying attacks on people roaming the streets. A woman in China was recently mauled by a giant Tibetan mastiff.
The abandoned Tibetan Mastiffs not only grab food from other wild animals, they also attack livestock and even people on the road. Environmental experts also warn that the dog could also bring fatal infectious diseases to other animals, reports People’s Daily China.
The worst scenarios are in rural China and parts of Tibet where these dogs have been dumped in groups. Due to the absence of individual attention which previously kept owners on guard, these dogs are running amok, attacking with such ferocity that people can’t help but be wary of a ‘nuisance’ they themselves first created.
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