A pack of stray dogs that live near a disused factory in Russia were caught on camera with a bright blue colour.
Experts believe the change of their colour was caused by chemical waste in the factory.
The incident happened near an abandoned plant in Dzerzhinsk, which is a Soviet-era plant.
Local authorities are heading to the area today to take the animals for a check-up after the pictures surfaced.
The disturbing pictures of the dogs were taken by locals near the factory.
Locals said that the Dzerzhinskoye Orgsteklo plant closed 6 years ago due to financial problems.
The factory was once a large chemical production facility that was making hydrocyanic acid and plexiglass.
Andrey Mislivets, the bankruptcy manager of the plant, denied the authencity of the images.
They said the images were a prank.
The man said the animals could have found some copper sulphate, a type of chemicals that is capable of causing inflammation, while they were wandering around the abandoned buildings in the area.
Talking about the images, the commissioner said:
Possibly they found the remains of some old chemicals and rolled in it, and possibly it was copper sulphate. Several years ago something similar happened when stray dogs got unnatural “dyes”. They must have found something. No one controls them.
The man then said that no one controlled the dogs.
The authorities in Dzerzhinsk City are seeking permission to go onto the private land so they can carry out tests a inspections.
They are now planning to catch and check the polluted dogs.
A government spokesperson said:
Talks are being held with the chiefs of the enterprise about the possibility of catching the dogs. They must be checked, their health must be assessed, and the reason for their hair dye must be found.
The animals are believed to have been coloured by copper sulphate, which can cause a burning or stinging sensation.
This can lead to itching or inflammation.