A man who spent $16,000 to "become a dog" has been the victim of intense trolling online, and he has since hit back at his critics.
The Japanese man, whose human name remains unknown, but goes by Toco when he's dressed as a dog, has seemed to have found the key to happiness in canine form.
Confessing that it has been a dream of his for many years, Toco now has a stable income to support his aspirations, and has turned his lifelong dream into a tangible reality.
To fully embrace his canine persona, Toco invested a staggering $16,000 in an elaborate and incredibly realistic dog costume. The masterpiece, crafted by the Japanese company Zeppet, boasts such lifelike features that it's almost impossible to tell the human inside from the genuine animal.
Sadly, some haven't taken too kindly to Toco living a life that makes him happy, and he has been subjected to online harassment.
As per the Daily Mail, some have accused him of needing "therapy" and they insist that dressing up as a dog is "some weird sex thing".
Toco has clapped back at his trolls, stating: "I'm just sad that people can think that. I love animals and enjoy play-acting like a collie. This is my hobby, so I will carry on. It makes me happy and other people happy, too."
It begs the question of why people are so insistent on bringing down people who are genuinely happy.
Despite the online abuse, Toco has gone to great lengths to create an immersive experience, even sleeping in a giant dog crate to truly embody the spirit of a rough collie. And recently, he was thrilled to share with his devoted YouTube followers that he had finally realized his dream of going for a walk outdoors, leash in hand.
"I became a collie, fulfilling a dream I had since I was a little child to be an animal," Toco joyously declared. The video showcases his triumphant excursion as he strolls around his home, sips from water bowls, and explores with unbridled excitement before setting off on his much-anticipated walk.
This extraordinary journey first captured public attention when images of Toco adorned in the high-end canine ensemble surfaced online. Since then, he has amassed nearly 30,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Zeppet, the mastermind behind Toco's custom-made costume, explained the meticulous process behind their creation. "The point is that the skeleton of a dog can be reproduced on the skeleton of a human," they revealed.
"We spent a lot of time studying how to make it look like a dog, even collecting photographs from various angles to ensure the beautiful coat of the collie could be faithfully reproduced."
Though Toco has found an eager audience online, he has chosen to remain anonymous to his friends, fearing their judgment. "I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird," he confessed. "My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal."
It sounds like Toco is a lot happier than those harassing him online!
