Unleashing the Olympic animal connection

On this, the opening day of the Olympic Games, Petside.com reminds us that China is home to a number of ancient dog and cat breeds, among them:

Chinese Crested

Chow Chow

Pekingese

Pug

Chinese Shar-Pei

Shih Tzu

Cat lovers, Petside.com also features a section where you can see Asian cat breeds and Olympians with their pets .

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Photos (in order): Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times; Yuri Cortez / AFP/Getty Images; Petside.com; Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Peter Hujar; and a family photo.

Comments

[Dogfan]

The Chinese Crested originated in Africa where they were called "African Hairless Terriers.

Good try.

[Brien Comerford]

China is a nation that annually slaughters hundreds of thousands of dogs and two million cats for fur. A horrible place for the animal kingdom.