Shelter dogs have a way of bringing little surprises with them. Some reveal quirky personalities no one saw coming, others end up having a much wider mix of breeds in their family tree than expected. And then there are truly unusual cases like Indigo, whose real background turned out to be far more surprising than anyone could have guessed.
When a retired Army veteran from Florida adopted Indigo and brought her home, she thought she was welcoming a Mastiff and Labrador mix into her life.
Indigo did have the look of a bully breed, but nothing about her face or body hinted at what the DNA test would later uncover. The results told a completely different story from the one written on her shelter paperwork.
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.