Staff at a Florida animal shelter are encouraging would-be owners of designer dogs to consider adoption after being surprised by a puppy that recently came into their care.
Four-month-old Penny, a husky-golden retriever mix, was surrendered to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, and as a so-called “designer” dog, the staff was shocked to see her come through their doors. But the team noted in an April 7 Instagram video to the account @peggyadamsarl, animal shelters can be “full of surprises,” with pets fitting every adopter’s needs. From young to senior dogs, energetic or mellow, and as Penny showed, even highly sought-after mixes end up awaiting their forever homes.
Designer dog breeds—often marketed as premium or trendy pets—are intentionally created by crossing two purebred dogs to combine desirable traits, such as temperament, appearance or coat type, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. While these mixes, sometimes called “crossbreeds,” can offer a blend of characteristics from each parent, experts note that results aren’t always predictable, and puppies may inherit both positive and negative traits.
In the Instagram clip, which has since racked up more than 8.7 million views, staff showed the surprise breed, sitting calmly in the shelter with hopeful eyes and quickly winning over viewers online. The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League described the puppy as “gentle, intelligent and so friendly,” noting that she was surrendered after her previous owner could no longer care for her.
“Penny’s story illustrates that you never know who you’ll find in a shelter,” Mara Gleason, marketing and communications associate with the shelter, told Newsweek via email. “There’s a common misconception that shelter pets are ‘there for a reason’ or that shelters don’t have a wide variety of animals. In reality, animals of all breeds and ages enter shelters through no fault of their own every day.”
Gleason said animals often enter shelters because of the death of the owner, lack of pet-friendly housing, financial strain or accidental litters born to unsterilized animals.
In Penny’s situation, her family was unable to afford pet-friendly accommodation, Gleason said.
Despite her unexpected circumstances, Penny’s stay at the shelter was short-lived. After her video went viral, she was quickly adopted and is now thriving in a loving home. But her journey will serve as a reminder for weeks to come.
“Penny is a prime example,” the shelter said. “You never know who you’ll find in a shelter.”
Viewer Reactions
The Instagram video had more than 9,186 reposts and 1,671 comments as of Monday, with viewers stunned by Penny’s breed and that the previous owners surrendered her.
“Omg what a cutie. With that mix, she’s probably the sweetest, friendliest, funnest girl! Praying she gets scooped up asap!” one person wrote.
Another user commented: “New dream dog unlocked.”
A third added: “So adorable! Wishing this puppy a beautiful life.”
