A long-coated male chihuahua named “Heart-kun”, born with a heart-shaped pattern on his coat, has gained cult status in Japan with numerous appearances on local television and print media, and on YouTube and Reuters.

The one-and-a-half-month-old chihuahua was born on May 18, 2007 as one of a litter. The shop owner Emiko Sakurada said that this is the first time a puppy with these marks has been born out of a 1,000 that she has bred. She also said that she has no plans to sell the puppy.

Here's Heart Kun being held by the shop owner Emiko Sakurada at Pucchin Dog’s shop in Odate in northern Japan July 10, 2007.