Photos of a stray pack of bright blue dogs on a snowy road in Russia are circulating online.
The photos of the dogs all seem to show the pack with varying degrees of cobalt hue on their coats.
The pictures were taken in the city of Dzerzhinsk, 230 miles east of Moscow and, according to The Moscow Times, posted on the Russian social media site vk.com.
While some dogs are dark blue, others are less pigmented.
Reactions to the photos on social media were mixed – some said the dogs looked like cartoon characters, while others expressed concern that their fur was colored blue due to pollution and were concerned about the health of the animals.
A Twitter user wrote, “Those blue dogs in Russia are the result of toxic pollution. NOT FUNNY !!!!!”
Reports say the dogs could have picked up the signature color after being exposed to chemicals at a nearby abandoned factory.
The factory produced plexiglass and hydrocyanic acid, but closed six years ago after bankruptcy.
Hydrocynic acid, a suspension of hydrogen cyanide in water, was originally isolated from the pigment Prussian blue and takes its name from cyan, the ancient Greek word for blue.
It is described as toxic by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which lists one of its uses as a commercial dye and as a chemical warfare agent.
The chemical plant’s former bankruptcy manager, Andrey Mislivets, told the state-run news agency RIA Novosti that the plant’s buildings also store copper sulfate, a chemical known for its bright azure color.
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“Stray dogs roam the area,” he said. “They may have found and rolled in the remains of some old chemicals, and it may have been copper sulfate.”
He reported that something similar had happened “several years ago” to animals that changed color after coming into contact with “unnatural dyes”.
RIA Novosti also reported that animal rights authorities said the dogs’ health is unlikely to be endangered. However, Newsweek has contacted the ASPCA for their comments on the photos and possible health risks to the dogs.
According to reports, local authorities are currently negotiating with the management of petrochemical company Orgsteklo for permission to enter the shuttered factory site and capture the dogs to determine why their fur has changed color.
“According to the preliminary visual inspection, the dogs are in good condition,” Russian news agency Interfax reported. “Tomorrow, specialists will enter the chemical plant site and search for and examine the animals.”