Japanese snap up dog raincoats to protect their pooches from radiation

It is a response to Japan's nuclear meltdown that few were expecting.

Dog owners worried about radiation following the Fukushima accident have cleared the shelves of protective pet raincoats.

The doggie jackets are now considered a vital survival strategy for animals living in areas near the power plant.

It is hoped that the colourful coats will protect them from the effects of nuclear rain soaking through their fur.

Vets have warned that because dogs are close to the ground and forage in shrubbery and the ground, they are at risk from airborne radiation, which is concentrated in areas where rainwater collects.

Sales of the mini-macs have soared by 50 per cent, according to The Times, after the catastrophe in March left people terrified of the after-effects of radiation. MORE>>