Terrified residents nearly shih tzu-ed themselves when they thought this lost mutt was an escaped genetically modified pig on the run from nearby medical labs.
The bizarre looking stray - actually a rare pedigree Chinese crested hairless dog - was spotted wandering the streets in Xinxiang, Henan province, central China, close to several scientific research centres and a local medical school.
One witness said: "The pink skin makes it look just like pig gone wrong in some sort of genetic experiment."
But police say the roly-poly pooch is more likely to be a pampered pet that gave its owner the slip.
"It is definitely a dog, and quite an expensive one at that," said a spokesman.
The bizarre breed with just tufts of hair on its head and tail and a bare, spotted body regularly features as a contender in the World's Ugliest Dog contest.
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