The authorities fear the worst after several stray dogs turned bright blue.
The bizarre incident takes place in Dzerzhinsk, Russia, where chemical waste generated by an old chemical factory is believed to be responsible for turning the coats of several stray dogs bright blue.
According to the experts on the matter, they fear that chemical pollution generated by the factory, which was abandoned six years ago, has caused the color changes in stray dogs wandering around the disused facility.
While Andrey Mislivets, the factory’s bankruptcy manager, dismissed the allegations of chemical waste pollution, an investigation into the matter has been launched whereas the affected dogs will be thoroughly examined once caught.
“Possibly they found the remains of some old chemicals and rolled in it, and possibly it was copper sulphate,” Mislivets said as he insisted that the dogs might have entered the facility.
“Several years ago something similar happened when stray dogs got unnatural ‘dyes’. They must have found something. No one controls them.”
Amid rising fears that pollution could be responsible for the changes in animals, the local authorities requested permission to enter the private area and capture the dogs.
“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,” a spokesperson for the local government explained.
It is believed that the affected stray dogs have turned blue after coming in contact with chemical waste – copper sulfate in particular. It is not clear whether the chemical was present in the environment due to pollution or if it was discovered by the dogs after they had entered the factory.
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Replaced!