Wolf in sheep and dog painted as tiger ~ labrador to tigerador

Proverbs in different languages may be matching more or less but may not have been translated ‘verbatim’ ~ there is also the doubt – why people try to do unnatural things ! knowing fully well that basic traits would never change, is there any point in making cosmetic changes ?

In Tamil, we say, ‘pasunthol porthiya puli’ [a tiger wearing the skin of cow] – its equivalent is ‘wolf in sheep's clothing’  - meaning, a dangerous person pretending to be harmless.

Wolf over the years has been painted to be one of cunning and harming………. The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a species native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. It is the largest member of its family; it is similar in general appearance and proportions to a German shepherd. Within the genus Canis, the gray wolf represents a more specialised and progressive form than its smaller cousins (the coyote and golden jackal), as demonstrated by its morphological adaptations to hunting large prey, its more gregarious nature and its highly advanced expressive behaviour.  The wolf with its long history of association with humans, is one of the world's most well researched animals, with probably more books written about it than any other wildlife species.

Of the pets, dogs would take the cake…….. there are some who dress them with fancy material ~ but nothing like this Labrador whose owner took great pains to make it look like a tiger – a birthday treat. 

Daily Mail reports that the owner dyed Lilo the labrador look like a Tiger for niece's birthday treat. The dog Lilo was dyed orange and black to resemble Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, a dying  job which reportedly took pet groomers 90 minutes and would last six months; the owner capped it further by saying that Lilo will be dyed as a zebra next. 

Meet Lilo the 'tigerador' who was given a make over especially for the fourth birthday of his owner's Winne-the-Pooh-mad niece. Matt Curran decided to turn his 10-month-old labrador pup into the character of Tigger using animal-safe dye for his niece's birthday surprise. Lilo the labrador will be taken back to the pet salon again when the six-month tiger dye wears off. The pooch's coat was dyed orange on top, with black stripes on her back, limbs and around the eyes to resemble a tiger. Mr Curran said the dye job was a complete success and that his niece likened Lilo to Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

The owner said he is struck with a tiger for next few months making the Labrador into a tigerador…….. it is stated that the dog Lilo loves the attention……

One tends to ask…… whatever be the colour of the dye, would that change a dog in to a Tiger and do such artificialities give anything more than momentary pleasure ?

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

25^th April 2013.

Photos and news courtesy : www.dailymail.co.uk