Patio Camouflage

Can you identify a familiar object in this picture? It is an extreme example of camouflage. All color clues have been purposely removed, and a good deal of the details are missing.

Pretend you are a hungry, yet color-blind Panther in the jungle. What visual clues can you find that will help give away the object you are seeking?

Answer:
It's a dog. The Dalmatian's nose is close to the ground. The dog is facing towards the darker patch at the upper left.