If there’s one thing that you can be sure all people love regardless of their race or culture, it’s dogs. And who wouldn’t? They’re cute. They’re loyal. They make for great companions for families. At least these were the perks a villager from the Yunnan province was expecting to get when she bought a puppy from a roadside vendor.

She only realized her mistake two years later. While she knew the pup would grow up into a big dog, she grew suspicious when her family pet tipped the scales at 250 pounds. And then it started walking on two legs. It wasn’t a dog, after all.

A Case Of Mistaken Identity

You’re probably wondering how that mistake could happen in the first place or go on for that long. The thing is, young animals can look the same, especially to the untrained eye. So, when Su Yun was told she was buying a puppy, she didn’t really doubt her purchase.

Knowing more about her story and seeing the animal itself, you’ll begin to better understand how this case of mistaken identity played out. So, if you’re planning on welcoming a pet to your household, read this first before you head out to buy a puppy.

A Holiday Purchase

Yun and her family were on a holiday vacation in 2016 when they happened on a roadside vendor selling cute pups. They were originally from a village near the city of Kunming in the Yunnan province. The region is located in the country’s southern tip and is known for its varied landscape.

While other people bring home little trinkets to remember their travels, Yun went a different route and brought back a puppy instead. It’s just that she got more than what she paid for. Considering the valuable animal the pup grew into; you can say she definitely got her money’s worth from the purchase.

Can You Really Buy Pets Off The Street In China?

If you’re wondering why she bought a pet off of a roadside vendor instead of a pet shop or a dog shelter, then it’s time we tell you about the pet boom in China. According to a China Dialogue report, the Asian nation’s young population has become enamored with owning pets leading to an increased demand for dogs and cats.

There’s even a long stretch of road in Jiangsu province where breeders sell pets. That considered, it isn’t really out of the norm for Yun to have bought her puppy from a similar kind of seller. There’s a big downside to this boom, though.

The Dark Side Of The Pet Boom

Because of the large number of trades in the Chinese pet market, regulations aren’t always followed. As a result, animals that are born into and live in pet farms suffer in poor living conditions. Worse, buyers are often deceived into buying these unhealthy pets.

Although it is unknown whether the seller Yun bought her puppy from knowingly tricked her, she became a victim of these poor practices. The good news is that she went home with a pet that was in great health. The bad news is that it wasn’t the breed she expected it to be.

A Tibetan Mastiff At A Bargain Price? Yes Please!

Yun said that the seller advertised the puppy as a Tibetan mastiff. The breed is a type of sheepdog that’s native to the Himalayan region it is named after. Known for its large size and cuddly appearance, it has become popular among Chinese pet owners over the years.

Now, Tibetan mastiffs don’t come cheap. One of them even sold for $1.9 million in 2014! Yun paid a bargain price for hers, though. Given the typical $15 to $30 price range of pets sold in Jiangsu province markets, we imagine she didn’t spend much more money than that.

Bringing Home The New Member Of The Household

And so, Yun and her family went home none the wiser with their newly bought black puppy in tow. Bringing back a coveted dog breed, their village neighbors were probably amazed by the new addition to their family. You see, Tibetan mastiffs are a sort of status symbol in China.

Purebred ones are hard to come by and are often compared to the country’s beloved pandas. It’s often only the wealthy who can afford to have them as pets. Yun took pride in their pet and gave it an adorable name, too. Because of its black hair, the family dubbed the pup Little Black, which would prove ironic in hindsight.

Life Went On As Normal

Yun’s family eventually adapted to living with Little Black, and life went on as normal. In contrast with its majestic appearance, the Tibetan mastiff is actually a pretty easy breed to care for. Their double-coated fur is low maintenance. They even eat less than expected for their mammoth size.

Even better, the relatively cool year-round climate in Yunnan province agreed well with Little Black’s needs. The family didn’t really have to adjust much to care for the puppy. Still, they noticed some strange things about their pet began maturing into adulthood.

Little Black Had A Huge Appetite

Having been informed of Little Black’s breed, Yun anticipated that the dog would grow into a large creature. Although they’re very slow to mature, the typical fully grown Tibetan mastiff stands at a little over two feet and weighs well over 100 pounds.

But the thing is, they don’t really eat a lot. Adults only eat up to four cups of dog food. That is not the case with Little Black, though. The dog had a huge appetite and could go through a lot of food in a day. Even stranger is the kind of fare he munched on.

Unusual Food Preferences

Dogs can eat a wide variety of foods in their daily diet. They could consume prepackaged meals as well as table scraps. They could even have some fruit, but in moderation and with plenty of restrictions. Little Black doesn’t seem to be hindered by those.

While other dogs would probably get sick eating tons of fruit daily, Little Black thrived on eating that way. His strange food preferences didn’t stop there, though. He also liked to eat noodles, which is a staple food in China, along with rice.

A Vegetarian Dog?

Judging from what Yun revealed about Little Black’s upbringing, it appears that he typically ate meatless meals. This definitely sounds strange as dogs, like their human companions, are omnivorous creatures. And while it is theoretically possible to have canines eat vegetarian, experts warn that it’s easy to get things like nutrition needs wrong.

So, how come Little Black can manage to thrive on such a strange assortment of food and with no meat at that? Well, that’s because he was actually eating correctly, but not for a Tibetan mastiff or a dog’s standards.

No Cause For Alarm

Little Black’s choice of fruits and noodles meals understandably caused some concern for Yun and her family, but it didn’t really cause any alarm. In the two years they spent raising him; it didn’t seem like he ever needed to be taken to a vet, who could’ve easily warned them about their pet’s true identity.

Yun and her family saw how Little Black remained healthy and were happy to leave it at that. After all, resilience is only to be expected of breeds like the Tibetan mastiff, which has survived for thousands of years living in the high altitudes of Tibet.

Tibetan Mastiffs, They’re Just Like Us

Experts on the care of Tibetan mastiffs would’ve warned the family of potential diseases, though. According to research, the ancient breed is susceptible to the same illnesses that humans are. Among these is diabetes, which is often seen in overweight dogs.

And with the way Little Black was eating, he was well on his way to having weight spiral out of control. It came to a point when the dog was consuming two buckets of noodles and a box of fruits every day. That’s when Yun grew concerned...and a bit suspicious.

Little Black Is Not So Little Anymore

With the many calories Little Black was eating day in, and day out, he put on a lot of weight over time. His growth, although expected, still came as a shock to the family. The more he ate, the more he grew. And he didn’t stop until he tipped the scales at a hefty 250 pounds!

In just the span of two years, the little black puppy Yuan bought off of a roadside vendor turned into a gigantic pet. Little Black wasn’t so little anymore, growing to be twice as big as initially expected. What could be wrong with him?

Was It A Case Of Gigantism?

Given how big Little Black turned out to be, some might wonder whether he had some kind of gigantism. But while he fit the bill for his abnormal growth and excessive hunger, he didn’t really show any of the other symptoms associated with the condition.

It’s also interesting to note that other mastiff family members can reach the same size as Little Black. The English mastiff, for example, is known to grow as heavy as 250 pounds, too. Little Black would actually look small next to the record holder of the world’s heaviest dog title, which happens to be an English mastiff.

Little Black Vs. Zorba

In the late ‘80s, Guinness World Records dubbed Aicama Zorba of La-Susa (Zorba for short) the longest and heaviest dog in the world. He measured 2.5 feet from the tip of his nose to his tail and weighed a whopping 343 pounds at his heaviest.

While Little Black was a giant himself, he would’ve definitely been dwarfed by Zorba, who hailed from London, England. This is one reason why it’s a great thing Yun didn’t try to get her family pet recognized for this record. He would’ve been disqualified right away.

The Incident That Finally Opened Su Yun’s Eyes

In 2018, she finally realized what was truly going on with their strange dog. Accounts vary regarding the specific incident that finally opened Yun’s eyes to the situation at hand. Some say that she happened upon the dog standing on his hind legs in the kitchen one afternoon.

Other sources said Yun noticed Little Black occasionally standing on his two feet more frequently as he grew up. They all agreed, though, that seeing his bipedal shenanigans is what made Yun and her family realize that there was truly something up with their beloved pet.

Little Black Is A Not-So-Little Bear!

It didn’t take long after that for Yun to figure out what was wrong with Little Black. As it turns out, the answer to her questions was standing right in front of her all along. The Tibetan mastiff she’s been raising for two years wasn’t a dog. It was a bear!

No wonder he was behaving the way he did. Little Bear was a wild animal who was better off living in a zoo than their family home. This realization came as a total shock not only to her but also to the rest of the world. Her fascinating story was covered by several Chinese news outlets and Western publications.

An Expert Weighs In

As expected, there were those who found Yun’s claims unbelievable. Speaking with National Geographic about the topic, expert Lynn Cuny said that it’s not hard to tell whether a certain animal is a domesticated one or a wild one even when they’re young.

Cuny, who is the president of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in San Antonio, Texas, said that wild animals behave in a distinctly different way. For example, they exhibit signs of anxiety when placed in the same environment as humans. She also pointed out something else that was unusual in Yun’s story that others haven’t noticed.

A Dog That Sounds Like A Bear?

She said that bears and dogs don’t really sound alike. A bear doesn’t bark. And a dog should never grumble. So, how was it possible that Yun never wondered why her Tibetan mastiff never vocalized like a dog at all? Or that it sounded like a bear?

Thus, Cuny’s first reaction upon reading the odd story is thinking that there was something else at play there. In her opinion, it was more than just an honest mistake on Yun’s part. It was something that should’ve never happened in the first place. Still, it’s worth noting that incidents like this have happened several times in the past.

A Stray “Dog” And A Good Samaritan

One such case is that of a woman from California who found what she thought was a stray dog at her front door. It appeared sickly, so the good samaritan decided to take the poor creature in. She then called her local animal rescue service to report the stray.

But upon the rescuers’ arrival, she was informed that the “dog” was actually a coyote. Thus, the animal was brought to a different rescue meant for wildlife. This is usually how things go in these kinds of stories regardless of which country they happen in. Be it China or Norway.

The Hamster That Wasn’t

A man rescued a “hamster” from being run over as it ran across a street in Norway. Thinking it was somebody’s pet, he set out to find its owner to return the little guy. He didn’t have much luck finding the owner, but it was a good thing he eventually dropped by a pet store.

It was there that he was told that what he had found was actually a Norwegian lemming. The creature is a type of rodent that prefers living in the wild. Knowing this, the man ended up freeing the lemming back into nature. Such cases of mistaken identity can go the other way, too.

Have You Seen My Raccoon (Dog)?

In the case of Blackpool resident Michael McKenna, he was the one in search of a “wild animal.” The interesting thing, though, is that the missing pet he was looking for was, in reality, a dog. But it was a breed called tanuki that bore an uncanny resemblance to the notorious raccoon.

McKenna was worried people would mistake his dog, Kekei, for a regular wild raccoon and ignore her. Although we don’t know if she was ever found, we bet the person who eventually came across her was much luckier than the ones involved in this next story.

Cute Cats That Bite

A family in Texas decided to take in two adorable kittens hoping they’d make for great pets. Their hopes were crushed when the fur babies bit them and destroyed their feeding bottles. Upon research, they realized their grave mistake. Their blue-eyed kittens were actually baby bobcats!

The little kitties were eventually taken in by a wildlife rescue group, who are hoping to find their mother in the wild. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out so well for the family after that. As it turns out, they lied about some details of their story.

Caught In A Lie

According to a KSAT report, Jane Dinscore, who reported the finding of the bobcats, was caught lying about where the animals were actually found. They didn’t just happen upon them in an alleyway. She was actually trying to cover up for her brother after he told her he had wild animals in his home.

Dinscore was slapped with a criminal citation and reprimanded for her actions. It is suspected that the bobcat kittens were taken from their mother. Knowing this story now, we see why Cuny had a lot of doubts about Yun’s story. You might, too, after reading more about the rest of it.

Mixed Emotions

Let’s go back to where we left off with Yun and Little Black. Understandably, the discovery of her family pet’s real identity caused a lot of shock and confusion in their household. How could they have not realized what was going on early on? What would happen to the bear now?

Yun was particularly concerned about her family and even their community’s safety. Although the past two years have been free of incident, she was worried Little Black might start hurting people given his nature as a wild animal. After all, many exotic pet owners have suffered from injuries caused by their own companions in the past.

The Dangers Of Living With A Bear

 

Yun could definitely learn a lot from the story of the Walz family from the United States. Like her, they raised a black bear named Teddy as a pet for years. But despite the bond they’d formed, the animal ended up attacking matriarch Kelly Ann Walz while she was cleaning its cage.

Worse, her children witnessed the mauling as it happened. A neighbor was immediately called to the property. With no choice left, he ended up shooting and killing Teddy. It was too late, though, and Walz was pronounced dead at the scene.

Part Of The Family

There are definitely many parallels in Walz’s and Yun’s situations. The good news is that the latter would have a much better ending to her story. Still, she found it difficult to let go of Little Black. After all, he’s become part of her family and has grown attached to them.

Yun decided to keep the bear and continue feeding him his diet of fruits and noodles. But deep inside, she knew this arrangement couldn’t go on for long. Something needed to be done about Little Black, whether she liked the outcome or not.

Su Yun Unknowingly Broke The Law

Yun eventually found out that there are laws that mandated permits involving the domestication of wild animals like Little Black. More importantly, she realized how her family might have broken one of these guidelines without meaning to.

According to the China News website, this realization came before the local forest public security office was able to publicize the said regulations. Of course, ignorance of the law isn’t a strong defense against wrongdoing. Yun knew this. And so, she made the decision to turn Little Black over to the proper authorities.

Making A Tough Call

Knowing the possible consequences, Yun still picked up the phone and made the tough call informing the Yiliang County Forest Public Security Bureau about Little Black. The authorities arrived at her home within the same day to see the bear for themselves and rescue him.

Given how fast everything happened, we wouldn’t blame Yun for being overwhelmed about the situation she found herself in. Still, she must have felt a lot of relief knowing that she’d no longer have to worry about her family’s safety. What’s more, the authorities were able to clear a lot of things up for her.

Suspicions Confirmed

The Yiliang County Forest Public Security Bureau inspected Little Black before taking him away. They confirmed Yun’s suspicions that he was a bear, an Asiatic black bear, to be more specific. Upon measuring him, they found out that the animal has grown to be around 3 feet in height.

Little Black also appeared to be in great health and had excellent vital signs. We imagine the authorities were relieved to see no scars on him at all. Yun and her family definitely did a great job raising and caring for him even with the limited knowledge they had.

Ursus Thibetan

The Asiatic black bear is known by many names. They’re sometimes called moon bears and white-chested bears due to the distinct patch of white hair on their chest. They also officially go by the scientific name Ursus thibetanus.

The species is typically found in the mountainous areas of southern Asia, especially in countries like Pakistan, Nepal, northern India, and northern China. Knowing this, it’s highly possible Little Black originally came from one of these places and was taken from its mother to be sold. Sadly, there’s a huge demand for Asiatic black bears in the black market.

It’s A Dangerous World For Asiatic Black Bears

The species is currently categorized as a vulnerable one, just a step behind the endangered classification. Their population is said to be around 16,000 to 50,000 bears in China alone. However, some estimates put their population at 25,000 across all of Asia. That number might decrease even more in the future.

Thousands of Asiatic black bears can be found on Chinese bile farms, where they are milked for their bodily fluids. Their bile is marketed as a supposed cure for various ailments, from cancer to hangovers. And so, the world has become a dangerous place for bears like Little Black.

Lucky To Escape

Knowing the fate of the members of Little Black’s species, he’s definitely among the lucky ones who escaped what could’ve been a horrible life in captivity. It’s possible that he could’ve also ended up on a bile farm had Yun not purchased him all those years ago.

A house in the Yunnan province might not have been ideal for him, but it served as a sufficient home for him to thrive. What’s more, he found a family that treated him like one of their own. Still, the reality remains that he wasn’t meant to live with Yun.

Su Yun Says Her Final Goodbyes To Little Black

Saying their final goodbyes to Little Black was tough for Yun and her family, especially with the way he was taken away. According to China News, he had to be sedated by authorities during the process. It was likely a precautionary measure as the bear could’ve easily lashed out against people he didn’t know.

Photos of the rescue also showed Little Black being lifted away by four men while lying inside a metal cage. Sadly, this is likely the final image of their bear friend that Yun’s family had. After that, he was brought to the Yunnan Wildlife Conservation and Rescue Center for further observation.

A Reduced Punishment

Unfortunately, the family’s sadness was made worse by what came next. Although Yun admitted the mistake to the authorities, her husband was still reportedly punished. Zhang Haibin, a director at the local forest police station, said that they would give him a reduced punishment because of his family’s active cooperation.

The specific consequences of his actions weren’t elaborated on by Zhang. Hopefully, Yun’s husband, who was identified as Little Black’s keeper in a China Global Television Network report, didn’t receive jail time. Many others have been detained for violating the country’s Wild Animal Protection Law before.

Cracking Down On Wildlife Trafficking

On the bright side, China has been making amendments to its Wild Animal Protection Law in the past years to crack down on the issue of trafficking. The legislature was initially passed in 1989 and has since undergone various improvements, with the latest one being in 2021.

Coinciding with the start of the year of the ox, China updated its official list of protected animals. This is the first major update to the list since the wildlife law was put in place. Among the animals included are jackals and wolves, which were initially seen as “vermin” because of how they interfered with human activities.

Operation Breeze

China’s efforts in fighting illegal wildlife trafficking also involve a two-month crackdown called Operation Breeze. This saw authorities monitor all aspects of animal hunters and sellers’ movements, including the trade of wildlife at international borders. The Internet and various mobile platforms were also monitored.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the said platforms have become a hidden channel for crime. Hopefully, these efforts would be enough to keep species like the Asiatic black bear safe from further endangerment due to poaching and the prevalence of bile farms.

The End Of Bile Farming

The Chinese government isn’t alone in its mission to make the country a better place for wild animals. Animal rescue organizations like Animals Asia have been saving bears like Little Black from the horrors of bile farming. So far, the group has rescued 600 bears since it was established in 1994.

That number is only bound to go up in the coming years. Animals Asia continues to collaborate with authorities in countries like China and Vietnam to put an end to bile farming once and for all. Its staff is currently hoping to have all Vietnamese bile farms closed by 2022.

The Future Looks Bright

While organizations are saving bears, there are also those which mission is to provide them shelter. There are numerous sanctuaries in China that take in Asiatic black bears. Some of them even have a team of veterinarians to cater to the animal’s various needs.

One of these places is the China Black Bear Center in Chengdu. Believed to be the first of its kind, it hosts its resident bears in a semi-rehabilitation type of environment complete with a bamboo forest. Safe to say, the future looks bright for Little Black’s kind.

A Wild Life For Little Black

As for Little Black himself, it’s possible he’s been rehabilitated to be fit for life in the wild. After all, he isn’t meant to live out his days constrained in a cage or a fenced sanctuary. Here’s to hoping he’s now making the best of the 20 or so years he has left safe and sound in the wilderness.

His former family in Yunnan is definitely rooting for him to do so. Little Black might not be the Tibetan mastiff Yun anticipated, but he still brought her household a lot of joy. And for that, he will always be remembered.