Shelter dogs often come with a few surprises. Some develop unexpected character traits, others turn out to have more breeds in their background than anyone guessed. And then there are rare cases like Indigo, whose true identity was far more astonishing than anyone imagined.
When a retired Army veteran from Florida brought Indigo home, she believed she had adopted a Mastiff and Labrador mix.
Indigo certainly looked like a bully breed, but nothing about her appearance suggested what the DNA test later proved. The results were completely different from what the shelter had written.
A Startling Revelation
A Reddit user known as Unable-Wolverine7224 shared Indigo’s story online, and it quickly gained widespread attention.
“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.
Although she expected to see at least some Labrador in the report, the test results revealed something else entirely. Indigo was not a mix at all.
She was a purebred Fila Brasileiro, a breed unfamiliar to many dog owners and one that comes with a complicated history.
The Fila Brasileiro, also known as the Brazilian Mastiff, was historically bred for guarding property, managing livestock, and offering protection. Due to their reputation for being highly defensive and, at times, aggressive, these dogs are banned in multiple countries.
Experts note that Filas need confident, knowledgeable owners. If not properly trained and guided, their protective instincts can become overwhelming.
Despite the shocking discovery, Indigo’s owner never experienced the issues commonly associated with the breed. Thanks to consistent training from puppyhood and plenty of socialization, Indigo grew into a gentle and loving companion.
Still An Incredible Gift
Looking back on the past three years, Indigo’s owner feels nothing but gratitude for the journey they have shared.
In her post, she explains that Indigo played a major role in her own growth and eventually inspired her to begin helping other veterans train their dogs. It was something she never imagined herself doing.
“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.
In the end, discovering Indigo’s breed changed absolutely nothing about their relationship. She remains deeply cherished and continues to be a loyal and irreplaceable part of her owner’s life.