Shelter dogs have a habit of arriving with surprises. Sometimes it is an unexpected personality quirk, and sometimes it is a breed mix that makes people stop and stare twice.
Then there are the truly rare cases.
Indigo was one of those dogs, the kind whose real story turned out to be far more shocking than anyone imagined.
When a retired Army veteran in Florida adopted Indigo, she honestly believed she was bringing home a Mastiff and Labrador mix.
At a glance, that seemed believable enough.
Indigo had the look of a bully-type dog, but there was nothing in her face or build that hinted at what a DNA test would later reveal. When the results came back, they were nothing like what the shelter paperwork had claimed.
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.