Fury Erupts Online Over Florida Man's Painted Pup

The internet is up in arms over a man named Eric Torres from Florida, who dyed his dog bright yellow and red to resemble the Japanese character 'Pikachu'.

This came to light when Torres brought his dog to an NBA game, where a basketball commentator's camera caught sight of the striking, unusual dog.

In response to the image seen by millions on TV, a commentator quipped, "I don't think this dog is really feeling the paint job," and the video of the yellow dog instantly went viral worldwide.

When Torres was asked why he did this, he simply replied that he thought it was funny. But his answer did not sit well, resulting in a flood of derogatory comments online claiming his action could cause irreversible harm to the dog. "Paint is a chemical, and dogs can definitely die from it," one user wrote.

Another comment speculated, "Who knows how the dog feels now, with things he just can't express in words," while another pointed out it might be illegal.

The power of social media was undeniable, as many called for a fine, which indeed happened, with Torres receiving a $200 penalty. "I didn't intend to hurt my dog or anyone's feelings," Torres states now. "I just wanted to make my daughter happy because she loves Pikachu. Before doing it, I made sure it wouldn't harm the dog and didn't paint him myself. I sent him to a professional in California who specializes in this. I didn't know I was doing something illegal."

"I know puppies are very delicate and their immune systems are weak and developing, so it's natural for them to get sick sometimes. But this dye was even safe to eat," he added.

Although some find his explanations 'reasonable', authorities aren't buying Torres's stories. As a pet store owner in Florida, there were 16 instances where his customers complained that their pets fell ill after using his products.

"If you still have concerns," he tells officials who now plan to thoroughly investigate him, "you can conduct research, just like I did, to understand what really happened and where exactly this dye came from. It's a dye that is meant to completely fade in about six months."