A Japanese company has been importing sheep from Britain and Australia and reselling them as Poodles to unsuspecting Japanese dog lovers. The unwitting customers of the inventively named "Poodle" company have been parting with up to £800 a pop for the masquerading sheep. Suspicions were aroused when one high profile customer, a Japanese movie star called Maiko Kawamaki went on a national talk-show and expressed concerns that her new poodle didn't bark or eat dog food. This was also backed up by another couple, who after taking their "poodle" to have its claws trimmed, were informed that this would be tricky considering the animal had hoofs.
Police believe that more than 2000 people have been duped into buying sheep. They have excused the victim's ignorance, with the fact that sheep are rare in Japan and not many people know what they look like. Presumably though, they know what a bloody poodle looks like!
Fear not, the unwanted sheep are not destined to end up in some new Japanese dish, however they have been donated to many zoos and farms. Hopefully raising the profile of sheep around Japan and thus avoiding another instance of this nature.
