Labrador ‘painted like a tiger’

Children at a birthday party in Australia were given a surprise recently when a family's pet dog was painted specially to look like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

Lilo the Labrador was sprayed to look like the cartoon tiger, as the birthday girl has a fondness for the big cats.

Owner Matt Curran carried out the plan with animal-safe dye for his niece on her fourth birthday.

"My niece loves tigers. Who doesn't like tigers? She loved it. She thought it was Tigger from Winnie the Pooh," Mr Curran explained.

He got experts from the Animal Magic Pet Grooming Salon on the Gold Coast to complete the procedure and leave Lilo looking like a wild animal.

Pet stylist Lucy Taylor added that only special dog dye can be used on pet pooches and the creatures must have no skin allergies. They should also be capable of sitting still for a long period of time.