For our first show for February we reported on a couple of dog related stories.
First off we reported on the Japanese man who has spent a fortune to turn himself into a dog.
My first reaction at this news was to ask, “Is this FUR REAL?”
But apparently it’s all true.
He’s actually spent the equivalent of £12,000 turning himself into a dog is now surprised and concerned that his friends and family think he’s weird!
Going by the name of TOCO he’s lashed out on a hyperrealistic collie costume so he can enjoy play-acting as a collie.
He regularly shares ‘day in the life’ videos on his YouTube channel as he learns how to eat, play and train like a pooch – with thousands of viewers watching.
In one video titled, “I want to be an animal”, Toco can be seen on a walk along the street, sniffing other dogs bottom’s in the park as well as having a roll around on the floor.
Channeling his canine alter-ego is an ongoing process for Toco, as he enjoys “doing things that only dogs do” as it makes him feel like a real pet.
He also enjoys tummy rubs and mimics the movements of a collie.
Perhaps unsurprisingly some reactions to his videos have suggested he should seek therapy.
Apparently he eats eats fake dog food, (why not real dog food, one has to wonder?), lays in a hammock and even has his own cage but he finds human activities difficult as his paws get in the way.
Well one place he should perhaps stay clear of is Italy where dog owners living in the city of BOLZANO, which is situated in the picturesque Dolomites region have now been ordered to provide a sample of their pet’s DNA at cost of between €65 to €100 or £56 to £86. .
In an effort to tackle the scourge of dog mess on the streets the provincial government is setting up a database of some 40,000 dogs in the area.
So far 10,000 dogs have been registered, and once fully up and running, abandoned dog poop will be genetically tested (a nice job for someone!) and traced back to the owner who could be fined anything between €50 and €300 Euro – that’s about £42-£430. Presumably the fine varies according to the size of the donation being tested!
The cost of implementing the tests will come out of the expected income generated by the fines
Any owners refusing to comply will be fined between €292 and €1048 (£250-£900).
However you’ll be pleased to know that tourists and visitors to the area will be exempt, which might of course include Toco!
Hope you can join me again tomorrow,
Scott
