Man who spent £12,480 to become a dog hits back at criticism after he’s taken for walk in viral video
Man who spent £12,480 to become a dog hits back at criticism after he’s taken for walk in viral video
A man who spent over £12,000 to 'become a collie' has barked back after facing criticism online.
The unnamed man who lives in Japan has actively documented his journey to becoming an animal as his hobby on YouTube.
The social media user - who goes by the name Toco when he's dressed up as a dog - has spent over two million Yen (£12,480) to try and embody a collie.
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However, despite 'fulfilling his dream' he has faced backlash and been subject to harsh comments online.
Toco has shared videos to his YouTube channel - @I_want_to_be_an_animal - of him in his collie outfit, which was made by film and TV commercial costume company Zeppet.
In one of his. videos, he can be seen taking a walk outside and seeing dogs' and people's reactions.
Toco certainly received some intrigued, confused and slightly scared reactions from dogs while out on his walk, but online, social media users had a harsher response.
"Real dogs are amazing animals. This is just ridiculous and creepy," one YouTuber wrote.
Another added: "Disturbing."
An X user said: "A Japanese man spent over $20K for this border collie costume. You cannot convince me this isn’t some weird sex thing."
Toco responded: "I'm just sad that people can think that.
"I love animals and enjoy play-acting like a collie. This is my hobby, so I will carry on.
"It makes me happy and other people happy, too."
Indeed, Toco's passion for dressing up as a collie has received some positive comments from other users online.
One X user responded to his post showing him going 'out on the town' in his collie suit, writing: "Live your best life, King."
"Daww - Would adopt/ 100," a second user commented on another post.
A third added: "Very cute dog."
And a fourth resolved: "Toco playing outside! YAY! You look pretty happy."
"I was nervous to go outside, but it was fun!" Toco responds.
The Japanese man told Mail Online last year that he's dreamt of being an animal ever since he was a 'small child'.
"I think it is a desire to transform," he said. "I've thought about it since I can remember."
Despite calls for him to show the face which hides under the dog costume, Toco isn't planning on revealing his human identity anytime soon as he believes he'd face a similar judgement from people he works with that he's faced from some users online.
Toco said: "I don't want my hobbies to be known, especially by the people I work with. They think it's weird that I want to be a dog."
Topics: Dogs, Animals, World News, YouTube, Social Media, Viral, Mental Health
Poppy Bilderbeck