I'd always read that the Japanese are an insular people, but I had no idea it was anything like this:

The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.

She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.

Buying something you were told was a poodle and then finding out it's actually just a mutt with fuzzy hair is one thing. Finding out it's not even the same species is another. Surely this must be some sort of joke?

If not...