The screenshot shows the arctic fox. [Photo/weibo.com]

A man from Anhui province who bought a "dog" during his recent journey to the Northeast China at a high price found the animal was not a dog at all.

When he bought it, the breeder assured the man that it was a pure-bred Samoyed, a Siberian sled dog, which is deemed precious because of its beautiful white fur. The man bought it for 7,000 yuan ($1,128), which he probably thought was a bargain.

But the man's suspicion was aroused when the "dog" showed no interest in dog food and even "did not smell right". A friend who worked as a dog breeder was called over and he confirmed that, despite the brilliant white coat and dazzling blue eyes, that was not a Samoyed, but an arctic fox.

The arctic fox has been given a new home at Hefei Wildlife Park.