Who among us proud dog owners doesn’t think their pups are unique, am I right?
However, Anise Tooley and her boyfriend, Greg Fucich, from Mississippi, have every reason to claim their pups are special without explaining further!
Recently, their two Pitties, Pearl and Harley, had a new litter of puppies that the couple was expecting. But, while checking on the proud momma and her babies, Tooley and Fucich came to a shocking realization: one of the newborns was actually green!
The Cutest Intruder
It was both the sweetest and the oddest thing ever.
At first, Tooley didn’t even notice the color of the pup’s fur was green as she was the first one born. Then, when Pearl had another one, the owner came to a stunning conclusion – her first-born was actually an intruder, color-wise!
“I didn’t notice at first she was a different color. Then when she had another one, and another one, I’m like, the first one is a different color,” Tooley told WLOX News.
She had the same pink ears and nose, and she was even the same size, but her color was different. How ‘bout that!
Stunned by what they had just seen, both Tooley and Fucich didn’t know what to think. This was the first time they encountered a puppy with such a rare coat color, which made them wonder.
The Mississippi couple immediately started Googling. After hours of research, they learned that their pup’s fur was stained in the womb by a green bile pigment called biliverdin.
The amount of biliverdin in the pup’s birth sac was surprisingly high, which ultimately led to this rare coat color phenomenon. The good news is that the condition is not dangerous at all.
Startled by their pup’s unique coat, the couple decided to play along and add a little fun to the whole situation.
They humorously named their furry baby – Fiona, after Princess Fiona in the Shrek movie. I mean, isn’t that just the coolest association or what?
Needless to say, Fiona’s story immediately spread all over the country, causing heartwarming reactions from her newly established fanbase.
Fiona’s Case Isn’t Unique
Although rare, Fiona’s fur color isn’t a unique phenomenon.
Recently, a Golden Retriever pup named Shamrock also shocked the world with its lime green hue caused by the same pigment. Shamrock, too, stole the spotlight with his unusual look, but his greenish pigment eventually faded as he grew bigger.
Fiona, on the other hand, still has many hearts to steal.
She’s still in the early stage of puppyhood, looking forward to making her first steps, tail wags, and zoomies. Even if her coat fades eventually, she will always remain Fiona, the Shrek princess, well-known for her birth phenomenon!
And, isn’t that just a memory for a lifetime?