PHOTOS: Man Who Spent $15,000 To Become Dog Finally Goes Outside, Interact With Fellow Dog’s
Man pays to be turned to dog
A dog lover who has achieved internet fame for his desire to ‘become an animal’ has taken his first steps outside dressed head to toe in a bespoke collie costume worth more than £12,000.
A man identified as Toco, spent two million Yen – equivalent to £12,480 – on a lifelike costume to fulfil his lifelong ambition of ‘becoming an animal’.
In some of his most recent updates to his almost 30,000 YouTube subscribers, Toco was seen playing in his backyard on all fours and attempting to perform tricks in exchange for fake dog food.
But he has now ventured into the outside world to meet other people and animals for the first time.
In a videos posted to his YouTube channel ‘I want to be an animal’, Toco is first seen being taken out for a walk on a leash, and is later seen sniffing at other dogs in a park before rolling around on the floor.
Toco’s antics were seemingly well-received in the video by passers-by and other dogs, who seemed inquisitive above all else.
But despite having built a cult following, Toco is not yet ready to take off his mask.
Toco told MailOnline in May last year: ‘Ever since I was a small child, I wanted to be an animal. I think it is a desire to transform.
‘I’ve thought about it since I can remember.’
The dog-lover said he has hidden his identity and his human face from the world because he doesn’t want to be judged by people he knows.
‘I don’t want my hobbies to be known,’ he said, ‘especially by the people I work with.’
‘They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.’
Then late last year, Toco told the Mirror he’s still not yet built up enough confidence to tell some of his closest friends about his hobby.
‘I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird,’ he said. ‘My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.’
Toco said he enjoys ‘doing things that only dogs do’.
In September, Toco first attempted an outdoor walk. He said in a YouTube video documenting the experience he felt ‘nervous and a little scared’.
