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Stray Dogs Turn Pink From Pollution In City Where They Were Previously Found With Blue Fur

Stray Dogs Turn Pink From Pollution In City Where They Were Previously Found With Blue Fur

A number of canines in the Russian city have changed colour

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Dogs in Russia have reportedly been changing colour due to pollution.

A number of canines have turned pink in the former chemical weapons-making city of Dzerzhinsk, with seven strays also having turned blue.

The pink canines were spotted near the Kristall defence plant - which reportedly manufactures explosives and ammunition.

Footage has emerged of the animals, showing their bizarre discolouration.

However, it is unclear whether the pink dogs have been caught by authorities and are undergoing tests.

According to reports, almost 300,000 tons of chemical waste was dumped in Dzerzhinsk during and after the Cold War, and it is one of the most heavily-polluted areas of the country.

Eas2West News

This isn't where the strangeness end, though. A pack of strays in another part of the city were found to have turned blue, as had their poo.

Officially, authorities in the region along with a vet, have told locals that it is not toxic and that the animals are not suffering from chemical burns as a result.

However, despite these 'assurances', the animals are being kept under close observation for 20 days.

These pups were spotted near the now dilapidated Dzerzhinskoye Orgsteklo plant, which was once a large chemical production facility making hydrocyanic acid and plexiglass.

At the time, authorities in Dzerzhinsk city were given permission to go onto private land at the Sovet-era facility, in order to catch and check the potentially polluted dogs.

Eas2West News

A spokesperson said: "The dogs are on the territory of a private company.

"Talks are being held with the chiefs of the enterprise about the possibility of catching the dogs.

"They must be checked, their health must be assessed, and the reason for their hair dye must be found."

Initially, the plant's bankruptcy manager, Andrey Mislivets, had claimed that the dogs may have been poisoned with copper sulphate, though this has not been confirmed.

Dmitry Karelkin, head physician of Zoozashchita veterinary hospital, said: "It is some kind of chemical."

Eas2West News

Adding: "The (blue) dogs are supervised. They will stay with us for 20 days.

"Their skin and hair is all covered with the dye."

But while it appeared 'non-toxic' and with 'no signs of irritating chemical burns', Dr Karelkin admitted some of the seven remained "under stress".

Officials have since played down the outbreak, saying it has been caused by 'dye' rather than anything more sinister.

Analysis of the dogs' blood and excrement was undertaken at the Lobachevsky Research Institute of Chemistry at Nizhny Novgorod State University, and the Committee for State Veterinary Surveillance, it was announced.

They found that while very strange, the colouring was not dangerous to their health.

Featured Image Credit: East2West News

Topics: Science, Strange, Weird, Dogs, Medicine, Health, Russia