A pet owner was left stunned when she learned the ‘puppy’ she had bought for £140 was actually a fox .
The woman, only known as Ms Wang, paid what she thought was a Japanese Spitz but grew suspicious when the animal stopped eating dog food at three months old.
Chinese media reported that Ms Wang also noticed the ‘puppy’ never barked and its fur got thicker and tail longer than that of a normal dog.
Eventually, her doubts were realised when an employee from a nearby zoo confirmed the pet was a domesticated fox, it was reported.
Ms Wang, from Jinzhong in China’s Shanxi province, told Shanxi Network Television she bought the ‘puppy’ from a pet shop in July last year.
She said: "The fur got thicker when it reached three months old. Its face became pointy and its tail grew longer than that of a normal dog."
Before she learned the truth, Ms Wang said people using a park where she walked her pet told her that the animal was a fox.
She added: "Other pet dogs seemed to be scared by my pet so I walked it with a leash."
Ms Wang told Chinese media she fed the ‘pooch’ fruit, chicken breasts and dog food, which the pet stopped eating when it reached three months old.
Sun Letian, an expert in animal epidemic prevention at Taiyuan Zoo, confirmed Ms Wang’s pet is a fox after she brought her pet in for advice.
He said: "Based on the size, it is a domesticated fox. It carries a smell in their body and the smell can get stronger as it grows older."
Currently measuring at 30cm (12in) long, the white-coated fox is expected to grow bigger.
Ms Wang said she opted to give her pet to the zoo so it can receive a more suitable diet and "better living environment", it was reported.
The fox will placed in quarantine for a month before it is placed in an enclosure, subject to approval.
"If you miss it, come by and have a visit," Mr Sun told Ms Wang.
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