A PIG, horse or an alien dog? This animal has been seen walking the streets, sparking fears it has escaped from a medical research centre.

With its strange-coloured skin and hairless body, many observers speculated the rare breed could have been some sort of strange mutant pig.

However given its white tufts of hair, unusual stance and wispy tail, the strange canine could even pass for a mini horse.

One witness said: 'The pink skin makes it look just like pig gone wrong in some sort of genetic experiment.'

However police have denied the animal is the subject of a genetic experiment - confirming it is actually a breed known as a Chinese crested hairless dog.

'It is definitely a dog, and quite an expensive one at that,' said a spokesman.

Originally published as Is this a pig, horse or mutant dog?