Woman Rescues An Abandoned Dog Only To Discover He’s Not Your Typical Dog

Meet the Tanuki, a type of raccoon dog. The animal got a boost in recognition this week when a woman in Japan shared images of her pet one named Tanu. She decided to take care of the animal after finding him abandoned.

Tanukis are the Japanese subspecies of the Asian raccoon dog. They may look a little bit like a raccoon but they are actually a canid and more directly related to domestic dogs.

The tanuki has been a large part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but a bit gullible.

Tanuki have also makes appearances in modern entertainment and is a character in the Super Mario Brothers video game series.

Although some people think the animal is rare, the species is not endangered. However, they have been the subject of major controversy in North America when it was discovered that the racoon dog, has been slaughtered and used for a variety of clothing products sold at major retailers. Their fur is often mislabeled as “raccoon” or worse yet, advertised as “faux fur”.

In Canada, the problem got national attention, and government MP Don Davies launched a petition to regulate fur sales in Canada (which is still active for Canadians to sign).

As for Tanu, he loves hanging out and eating, sleeping and doing what many domestic pets do, cuddle.

Although, they may not be the most suitable animals for house pets (being more similar in temperament to a fox), tanuki are very cute.

Share the tanuki with your animal-loving friends!

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