Dog owner cited for dying dog's coat to look like Pikachu
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida - You might have seen the viral video of a South Florida Pomeranian courtside at a Miami Heat game Monday. The owner is speaking out since he's been cited for having his dog's coat dyed to look like the Pikachu character.
"It's made NBA history because nobody's ever seen a Pikachu dog sitting next to an NBA player before," said Erik Torres, the dog owner.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida - You might have seen the viral video of a South Florida Pomeranian courtside at a Miami Heat game Monday. The owner is speaking out since he's been cited for having his dog's coat dyed to look like the Pikachu character.
This South Florida Pomeranian went viral after showing up courtside at a Heat game Monday.
"It's made NBA history because nobody's ever seen a Pikachu dog sitting next to an NBA player before," said Erik Torres, the dog owner.
But it's Pikachu’s fur color, that's now making headlines.
The dog had already gotten the attention of Miami-Dade Animal Services, during an inspection at his owner's Doral puppy store on December 21st.
"Pikachu was in the store. There was a staff member holding the dog in her lap. We obtained a photograph at that time," said Kathleen Labrada, Assistant Director, Miami-Dade Animal Services.
Kathleen Labrada, Assistant Director of Miami Dade Animal Services says there's a county ordinance, saying it is unlawful for any person to possess, sell or otherwise transfer within the county any dyed or artificially colored rabbit or another animal.
So, a few days after the initial inspection at World Famous Puppies on December 28th, the county told Erik they would be issuing a citation.
"No animal should be dyed, regardless of whether there's an ordinance prohibiting that or not. You don't really have any guarantee or any assurance that the chemicals they're putting onto your pet are safe,” said Labrada.
Miami-Dade animal services say they've issued 16 citations against World Famous Puppies, since they were licensed in March of last year, with many of those citations stemming from complaints alleging the sale of sick dogs.
Erik says he does what he can to keep the dogs healthy and disputes the allegations.
"Puppies are very delicate. They do tend to have very low immune systems as they develop and so it's the nature of the business that dogs do get sick," said Torres.
Pikachu, Erik says his family dog is not for sale.
“Here it is, it's the dye, you can eat it,” said Torres.
He tells us he bought a bottle of the dye and maintains it is safe enough for him to eat.
He plans to appeal the citation.
"At the end of the day, I had no idea this ordinance even existed," said Torres.
He also says he's staying outside of Miami-Dade county for now.
"We're not allowed to have possession of it so it's been kind of freaking me out.
Erik says he has no plans to remove the dye for now.