Reports of a baby lion stalking the streets of Norfolk, VA were put to rest when the animal in question turned out to be a 3 year-old Labradoodle.
A 911 caller told Norfolk police yesterday that a small lion was wandering one off the city's main streets "possibly looking for food," according to the Virginian-Pilot. After confirming that the Virginia Zoo's two lions were accounted for, police went to the scene and discovered that the "lion" was Charles the Monarch, a dog shaved to look like the mascot of Norfolk's Old Dominion University. The labradoodle is a popular member of the ODU fanbase and can be seen at tailgates on game days.
Charles with ODU mascot "Big Blue"
Charles' owner Daniel Painter told The Virginian-Pilot that this isn't the first time individuals have mistaken his dog for a lion and called 911: "I tell people he's a Lab-a-lion, and half the people believe that."
The "Lab-a-Lion" In Action:
