Abandoned Puppy Litter Adopted in Two Days
All seven puppies from an abandoned litter found at a recycling center were adopted within two days from the Sacramento SPCA, despite their wildly different appearances sparking a breed mystery.
Seven abandoned puppies found at a recycling center were adopted within two days of arriving at the Sacramento SPCA. The puppies, brought to the shelter as strays, were clean, healthy, and friendly upon arrival.
Staff and public puzzled by appearance
The puppies were littermates but looked nothing alike. Their coat colors, facial hair, and overall appearances varied dramatically. Some had scruffy beards and bushy eyebrows, while others had smoother faces. All shared one trait: large, oversized ears.
Staff members made many breed guesses. Suggestions included Belgian Malinois mixes, terrier mixes, Schnauzer mixes, Pit Bull mixes, and dogs with Poodle ancestry. Someone even joked about a dingo mix.
The shelter shared the puppies on social media, where followers offered their own ideas. Guesses ranged from Xoloitzcuintli and Basenji to Dutch Shepherd and Rat Terrier ancestry. Some compared their big ears to little rabbits. Sarah Varanini, the communications manager at Sacramento SPCA, noted the animated comparisons. "People thought the puppies resembled the animated dogs from Wes Anderson’s movie Isle of Dogs," she said.
The shelter explained that mixed-breed dogs can inherit very different physical traits from the same parents. This genetic lottery made it impossible to determine their breed by looks alone.
Puppies thrive and are adopted swiftly
The puppies' charming and friendly nature led to a rapid adoption outcome. When they became available, six were adopted on the very first day. The seventh puppy found its home the following day. The entire litter was settled in new homes within 48 hours.
Shelter employees believed the puppies had previously lived in a home before being abandoned. Their good condition and sociable behavior supported this theory.
Shelter awaits DNA results to solve mystery
The mystery of the puppies' lineage may soon be solved. One adopter commented on the shelter's Facebook post that they had already sent out a DNA test for their new pet. The shelter hopes to share those results publicly once they are available.
Sarah Varanini said the unusual litter sparked plenty of conversations among the staff. The shelter looks forward to closing the case on the puppies' surprising looks when the DNA data arrives.
