Hong Dong (his name means "Big Splash" in Chinese but Hong Dong is a much better name for obvious reasons), the extremely rare Red Tibetan Mastiff that some Chinese industrialist paid $1.5 million for. Let's see, you can adopt 1 million shelter dogs and dress them in teddy bear jumpsuits, or you can buy 1 HONG DONG! For $1.5 million, Hong Dong better join the circus, get a job, make a friend, save the whales, visit a hospital, keep cool, go to dog school and sit on a peanut. Amused: Clifford ain't.

No, the Chinese industrialist wasn't mistaken and thought he was buying a direct descendant of the First Lady of Cameroon's hair. Apparently, the Red Tibetan Mastiff is like the Rolls Royce hood ornament of dogs in China. It's a status symbol. It's says, "I'm rich, bitch." The San Francisco Chronicle that the pure breed said to be the oldest in the world was owned by Genghis Khan and Buddha. Some Chinese believe the breed brings blessings of health and security. And by that I hope they mean his farts contain the cure for the common cold and his piss can turn ordinary hair follicles into ginger cashmere threads.

Red Tibetan Mastiff puppies start at six figures and go up from there. The $1.5 million price tag makes Hong Dong the new most expensive dog in the world.