STRANGE ANIMAL: Dog thought to be gay abandoned by owner in the U.S.

VANCOUVER DESI

This dog in Tennessee faced death after its own abandoned it because he thought it was gay. Submitted photo/Facebook

A white Pitbull-cross in Tennessee has been rescued after being abandoned by his owner because the man thought the pooch was gay.

The dog faced being put to death after being housed in a cramped animal shelter in Jackson city, but media coverage of its situation resulted in adoption offers flooding in.

According to the shelter’s owner, the dog’s owner noticed him “hunched over” another male dog, which led him to believe it was gay.

While dogs are known to occasionally display homosexual behaviour, experts say a male dog mounting another male dog often a sign of dominance, not sexual preference.

Biologists have recorded same-sex activity in more than 450 species including flamingos, bison, beetles and warthogs.

A 2010 study of Alaskan Albatrosses found that a third of the pairs actually consisted of two females.

Research also shows around one-fifth of all king penguin couples kept in captivity are gay.

In his book “Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality And Natural Diversity”, Bruce Bagemihl claims homosexual behaviour has been observed in 1,500 species, and well-documented in 500 of these.

He said species like giraffe, butterfly and manatee – large marine mammals – engage in a huge, excitable, and same sex frenzy.

- With a file from IANS and Gawker

Tags: gay, Pitbull