Twitter user in Japan shares photo of unique 'raccoon dog' pet

TOKYO, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- A Twitter user in Japan on Tuesday shared photos of their pet raccoon dog, called "Tanuki," that soon went viral.

Twitter user chibi_tori shared several photos of the exotic pet doing various things, such as playing in the snow and warming up near a stove.

The Tanuki is a common figure in Japanese folk lore, with shrines featuring statues of the animal found throughout the country.

They are a species of dog, but are often classified incorrectly as badgers in the West due to their strong resemblance to raccoons.

According to Rocket News 24, the Tanuki's owners rescued the strange pet after they found it abandoned as a baby last summer.