Dogs are universally adored creatures, however, it’s a well-known fact that they come in various sizes. Some breeds are small enough to fit in one’s pocket, while others could be mistaken for wolves due to their impressive stature.

Back in 2018, a family who had raised what they believed to be a ‘mastiff’ for two years were in for a surprise. They discovered that their gigantic pet was not a dog at all.

Although big dogs can weigh up to 150 pounds, this particular animal grew to an astonishing 250 pounds.

But that’s not all – it also started walking on its hind legs. The Independent reported that the creature had an insatiable appetite, devouring a box of fruits and two buckets of noodles daily.

As time passed, the pet’s owner began to doubt if it was indeed a Tibetan mastiff, as it started to resemble a bear more and more.

“The more he grew, the more like a bear he looked,” she told China News. “I am a little scared of bears.”

She eventually called authorities and they confirmed that her suspicions were correct.

As reported by the Sun, in China, the animals are allegedly sold for huge sums of money on the black market, where they are used in traditional Asian medicine and foods.

A chemical found in the bear’s bile, ursodeoxycholic acid, for example, is used to treat liver disease and gallstones.

Fortunately, the bear was rescued and transferred to the Yunnan Wildlife Rescue Center. The transition seems to have gone well, and the bear is now thriving after its unusual start.

Surprisingly, Su Yun is not alone in China in mistaking a bear for a dog. In March 2018, a man from the same province reportedly did the same thing, taking in a bear he found in the forest, thinking it was a stray dog.

Fortunately, the relocation of the bear went smoothly and it is now enjoying a good life despite the unconventional start. However, it is remarkable that Su Yun is not the only one in China who has made this error. According to reports, in March 2018, another man from the same province mistakenly assumed that a bear found in a forest was a stray dog and took it in.