Man who spent £12,500 to 'become a dog' now has plans to turn himself into another animal
Every dog has its day - and it seems the time has finally come for the man who spent £12,500 to become a Border Collie to hang up his custom costume to become another animal.
You'd think someone who spent that kind of money on an incredibly lifelike ensemble would have it on their back until the day they shuffle off this mortal coil, but it appears that Toco fancies a bit of a wardrobe reshuffle instead.
The bloke, from Japan, squeezes himself inside the pricey dog suit and basically becomes a dog - getting around on all fours, barking, wanting his belly tickled, taking a nap in his cage and even going for walks on a lead.
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He only engaged in his animal antics in the comfort of his own home at first, but eventually he decided to venture out into the big wide world while wearing the elaborate canine costume.
Toco has hinted that he wouldn't mind finding other people who also identify as animals to play like puppies with, saying that he would love to 'meet them' and interact.
He purchased his Border Collie get-up from a Japanese firm called Zeppet, which create sculptures and models for films, to fulfil his childhood dream of 'becoming an animal'.
"When I fulfilled that dream, this is how it turned out," he said. "I've wanted to be an animal ever since I can remember."
Toco, who shares videos of him leading a dog's life on YouTube, explained that chose to splash out on the Border Collie costume as it is his 'favourite breed' and because it 'looks real' when he puts it on.
But it seems Toco might have now had enough of his tail-wagging days, as he's set his eyes on another animal that he'd like to morph into.
Speaking to local Japanese news outlet WanQol, the bloke revealed that there are four other animals he wouldn't mind transforming into - even though he isn't sure he could execute them as well as he did the Border Collie.
Despite the fact that Toco looking extremely convincing in the dog costume, he admitted that he found mimicking the pooch was a lot more difficult than he first thought.
He explained: "Dogs and humans have different bone structures and the way they bend their legs and arms, so dogs...it's very difficult to make movements that look like this.
"I'm currently researching ways to make my limbs look more like dogs," Toco said.
"Also, when they get dirty, they get dirt and dirt on their fur, so it takes a lot of effort to clean it every time."
So, what easier-to-clean animal would he like to act like instead?
Toco continued: "I might realistically be able to become another dog, a panda, or a bear.
"A fox or a cat would also be nice, but they are too small for humans to try. I'd like to fulfil my dream of becoming another animal someday."
In a previous interview with Mynavi, he said: "My favourite is quadrupedal animals, especially cute ones.
"Among them, I thought that a big animal close to me would be good, considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog," he added.
The Japan native previously revealed he 'rarely' reveals his animalistic alter-ego to those close to him, as he fears they will shun him for his unorthodox hobby.
He told The Mirror: "I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird. My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.
"Since childhood, I have had this unspecific fantasy of becoming an animal. I wonder whether it was a desire for transformation."
Topics: World News, Weird, Dogs, Animals
Olivia Burke