This undated photo provided by the Virginia Zoo shows the zoo's executive director Greg Brockheim with Charles the Monarch, a Labradoodle with a cut resembling the shaggy mane and tawny coat of a Lion, in Norfolk Va. A lion reported on the loose in Norfolk Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 was actually Charles, whose coif owner Daniel Painter says is intended to look like the mascot of Old Dominion University. (AP)
A dog shaved to look like a lion reportedly sparked a 911 call in Virginia, where Charles the Labradoodle has turned heads for some time.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the 911 caller told police that the baby lion was walking down Colley Avenue in Norfolk, possibly looking for food near 50th Street. Police, in turn, called the Virginia Zoo early Tuesday to make sure the lions were all accounted for, zoo spokesman Winfield Danielson told the newspaper.
As it turns out, the lion was later identified as Charles, a cross of Labrador retriever and poodle shaved down to look like the mascot of Old Dominion University.
“He has a thousand-and-200-some friends on Facebook,” said owner Chris Painter.
Painter said police have told him several times that Charles had been mistaken for a lion. But in reality, Painter said, the dog loves children and tailgating at ODU football games, as well as the occasional slice at University Pizza.
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