The story:

A property developer paid 12 million yuan ($1.9 million) for the one-year-old golden-haired mastiff at a "luxury pet" fair Tuesday in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the Qianjiang Evening News reported.

"They have lion's blood and are top-of-the-range mastiff studs," the dog's breeder Zhang Gengyun was quoted as telling the paper, adding that another red-haired canine had sold for 6 million yuan.

Enormous and sometimes ferocious, with round manes lending them a passing resemblance to lions, Tibetan mastiffs have become a prized status symbol among China's wealthy, sending prices skyrocketing.

Gorgeous animals to be sure, although maybe we shouldn't take the bit about lion's blood at face value.

Our recently-adopted rescue mutt cost somewhat less, but she's a digger and an escape artist, so we might eventually make up the difference in fence repairs.

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Cross-posted from Vodkapundit