A Unique Addition to Golden Treasures Kennel
Last March 3, 2024, a surprising and “lucky” discovery amazed everyone at Golden Treasures Kennel in Pensacola, Florida. Among a litter of light-colored Golden Retrievers, a puppy stood out with its unique key lime green color. It was a first for the kennel, even after raising Golden Retrievers for 17 years.
Shamrock’s Unique Appearance and Popularity
The lucky puppy was then named Shamrock. Although her green-colored coat might seem strange, this is not a rare happening. Sometimes, light-colored puppies can get stained green by a substance called Biliverdin while still in their mother’s womb. It’s uncommon, but it happens.
The owners, Carole DeBruler and her husband Greg knew about this, but they never expected a puppy as green as Shamrock. Despite cleaning her thoroughly, the green tint stayed for a while. Eventually, Shamrock’s color changed from dark green to a lighter shade, similar to key lime.
Shamrock was born into a litter of eight puppies, but she looked very different from her brothers and sisters. She was the smallest and had a coat that stood out. Plus, she arrived just two weeks before St. Patrick’s Day, which earned her the nickname “born lucky” on TikTok.
Usually, the green tint fades after the mother cleans the puppies, but Shamrock still remains green for quite some time. Her first video on TikTok got a whopping 6.8 million views, and Carole DeBruler was thrilled to share Shamrock’s uniqueness with the world.
Even with her unique appearance, Shamrock was quickly adopted into a loving forever home. She was the first puppy from her litter to be chosen. Carole DeBruler is sure that Shamrock will be adored by her new family and become their whole world.
The Science Behind Shamrock’s Green Fur
Mother Nature can be surprising sometimes, and that’s exactly what happened at Golden Treasures Kennel in Florida. Last March, a litter of Golden Retriever puppies brought a special surprise: a bright green pup named Shamrock!
Golden Retrievers are known for their stunning golden coats, so Shamrock’s green fur naturally caught everyone’s attention. But what caused this unusual coloring?
The answer lies in Biliverdin, a pigment found in bile, a greenish-yellow fluid that helps digestion. Believe it or not, sometimes light-colored puppies can come into contact with Biliverdin while still in their mother’s womb. This contact can stain their fur green – a rare but fascinating phenomenon.
The good news is that this green tint is usually temporary. The green color fades away as the mother cleans the puppies after birth. However, Shamrock’s case was a bit different. Her green fur was more stubborn than usual, taking longer to lighten. Even after cleaning, her coat remained a distinct key lime green, perfectly matching her lucky arrival just before St. Patrick’s Day!
Shamrock’s unique appearance didn’t just surprise her owners, Carole DeBruler and her husband Greg. It captured hearts all over the internet! When Carole shared a video of Shamrock on TikTok, it went viral, racking up a whopping 6.8 million views. People couldn’t get enough of this adorable green pup, and Shamrock became a social media sensation.
This green twist on the classic Golden Retriever not only brought joy to the DeBrulers but also offered a glimpse into the fascinating world of animal biology. Shamrock’s story reminds us that nature is full of surprises, and sometimes, the most unique things can become internet stars!
Here are some additional interesting facts about Biliverdin:
- Biliverdin is also responsible for the greenish color of some bruises.
- It’s a breakdown product of a molecule called heme, which is found in red blood cells.
- While not harmful, a very high Biliverdin level in a puppy can be a sign of underlying health problems. Luckily, this wasn’t the case with Shamrock.
From The Club
It was my first time hearing a green-colored Golden Retriever, and it immediately sparked my curiosity. Goldens have been my childhood dream dog, and even if I’m not with one now (big thanks, asthma, you make every bit of life harder), I still have a soft spot for these goofy dogs. While Shamrock had her fair share of the spotlight, I hope there’ll be fewer chances of having green-coated Goldens in other states. It may be cool to see Goldens having a green hue, but this can also mean an underlying health problem, and we don’t want that with these fun-loving furballs.
