Images of dogs with bright blue fur near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have left people scratching their heads. These canines are believed to be descendants of pets abandoned in northern Ukraine ...

For nearly four decades, the stray dogs of Chernobyl have lived and bred in one of the most contaminated landscapes on Earth, absorbing low doses of radiation that would keep most people far away.

Dr. Jennifer Betz, medical director for the Dogs of Chernobyl program, said there is a "0% chance that the blue color is related to radiation." In late 2025, social media users began sharing images ...