We are all aware that shelter dogs come with a few surprises along the way. Some have unexpected personality quirks. Others turn out to be a mix of multiple breeds instead of just two. And some, like Indigo, carry shocking secrets that no one expects.
When a Florida woman, a retired Army veteran, first adopted Indigo, she was told the dog was a Mastiff and Labrador mix.
While Indigo does look like a bully breed, her owner would have never guessed that her identity was far from what the shelter note said. But then came a DNA test, and with it, a complete shock!
A Shocking Discovery
A Reddit user, posting under the name Unable-Wolverine7224, shared her dog’s incredible story online, and it soon took the entire internet by storm.
“I adopted this little badger from my local Animal Shelter at 12 weeks old. I was told Indigo was a “Black Lab mix with a little Mastiff”. When she was a year old I did the test at one of her trainers request and was beyond shocked at the results,” the woman wrote in a viral Reddit post.
While the owner initially thought Indigo did have some Labrador DNA in her, the DNA test showed something completely different: she was a purebred pup!
Indigo was a 100 percent Fila Brasileiro, a breed most people have never heard of. But as it turns out, this exact breed carries a controversial reputation around the world.
Indigo happens to be a powerful Brazilian Mastiff, originally used for protection, herding livestock and guarding property. Due to its aggressive and violent history, these dogs are banned in several countries.
According to experts, Filas require strong leadership and experienced handling. Without these, they can be overly protective.
While shocked, the Florida retired Army veteran never had that problem. Thanks to Indigo’s early socialization and training, she’s nothing but a sweetheart and a gentle human companion.
“It Turned Out To Be An Amazing Gift”
In her reflection on their journey together over the last three years, the owner realized that owning Indigo has been nothing but a rewarding experience.
In her post, the woman explains that Indigo actually contributed a lot to training other dogs and helping her fellow veterans. Before Indigo, she never imagined taking on this role.
“Indigo was so challenging the first year which turned out to be an amazing gift. Three years ago I would never have believed I was capable of being a handler or trainer in any capacity. Indigo was a gift, if not for her I wouldn’t be able to help my fellow veterans learn to train their dog as a service animal,” Indigo’s owner wrote in the comments.
Ultimately, finding out about Indigo’s breed changed nothing about how she felt toward her dog. Indigo remains a trusted pup and definitely an irreplaceable part of her life.
