Lion Scare in East Clare: Turns Out to Be a Hairless Hound

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5video

Up Next

This week, the puzzling saga of a roaming ‘lion’ in Ireland has concluded – it turned out to be just Mouse, a Newfoundland dog, sporting a bold, new coiffure.

A recording captured by a lorry driver, who mistook Mouse for a lion exploring East Clare, gained traction on the internet, sparking questions about why the creature was roaming in the woodlands.

The Irish police (Gardaí) verified yesterday that the presumed King of the Jungle was, in fact, a very affable canine.

Visuals of the dog reveal its coat had recently been trimmed, with its lush tail and mane giving the appearance of a lion.

An Garda Síochána Clare declared via Facebook: ‘If you venture into the woods today…..you won’t encounter a lion, but rather the exceedingly friendly Newfoundland dog named Mouse.’

'Lion on the loose' turns out out to be a Newfoundland dog with a new haircut Garda Info @gardainfo Mystery solved! Turns out the ?lion? spotted roaming Clare was just a Newfoundland dog with a fresh haircut! Garda? from Killaloe have concluded that the recent video of a ?lion like? animal roaming around the woods in East Clare is in fact the very friendly dog named ?Mouse?. — The mane attraction: Newfoundland dog named Mouse identified as the ‘lion’ on the loose (Picture: X/Garda Info)

Numerous individuals have flocked to social platforms to voice their reservations regarding the Newfoundland’s shaved fur.

Clipping a Newfoundland’s fur is generally discouraged, as it can disrupt their natural temperature control mechanisms, leading to overheating.

The breed possesses a dual-layered coat that manages their body’s temperature by securing air close to the skin – providing coolness in the warmer months and insulation during winter.

One Facebook user voiced their relief that the dog was confirmed safe: ‘Glad to hear he is unharmed and that some trigger-happy individual didn’t embark on a hunt for Ireland’s first ‘wild lion’.’

Another individual remarked: ‘Unbelievable! I genuinely suspected it might be a shaved Newfie! Their gait is unmistakable.’