Reports of a lion roaming the streets were highly exaggerated.

People in Norfolk, Virginia have called 9-1-1 to report seeing a lion roaming the streets of their town, but it turns out to be Charles the Monarch, a Labradoodle with a haircut styled to look like Old Dominion University’s Lion Mascot.

He is owned by a local resident, Daniel Painter. Charles the Monarch is pictured below with the local zoo director.

 

A mating of a Poodle and a Labrador, the Labradoodle usually has the Poodle coat, which doesn't stop growing.

Unlike their wolf ancestors, Poodle hair grows as human hair does because of a pre-historic gene mutation which I won’t go into here (because I don’t understand it anyway).

The wolf and most other dog breeds shed hair, but the Poodle coat must be cut, and can be styled into a variety of Poodle do's as we’ve seen often on The Poodle (and dog) blog.

 

 This Poodle is styled as both a lion and a zebra.

 

But somehow the lion cut on a cat is a major

FAIL

 

Comments

[Heather]

I had no idea that poodle hair keeps growing! Charles the Monarch does look adorable.

[Icequeen81]

exaggerated u can clearly see is a dog, saw it on dogster

[Sherry in MT]

Funny people would think that and that truly does look like cat abuse!

[Karen Friesecke]

Apparently the dog was trimmed and dyed to look like a sports mascot. *facepalm*

[Pup Fan]

LOL... I can't believe people actually called the police. Hilarious!

[geogia little pea]

I told Cushion we'd see it on your blog! We saw a bit of this on the news last night but missed the details. We thought it might be a chow chow. I would never have considered labradoodle. I'm not fond of topiary dogs but this one...I love :D

[Becky]

That is just too cute! Except the cat. Poor thing.

[Khyra and Sometimes Her Mom]

I SO bet woo are jelly of the 'do ;-)

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[Donna]

I just don't know how I feel about these cuts on the dogs. It's weird. But on the other hand, it's not hurting them. To each their own I guess!

[Dogs N Pawz]

OMG...that Doodle is adorable!

[Maude]

I often wonder how on earth they are able to get these dogs to stand still for such intricate grooming. Either way, it's certainly artistic.

[Dennis the Vizsla]

hello jan its dennis the vizsla dog hay that is a verry kyoot lion!!! and a verry unhappy lukking cat!!! ok bye

[yellowdoggranny]

everyone wants me to shave Dexter like that...noooo way.