Owner Rescues 'Pit Bull' From Shelter—DNA Result Stuns Internet

Newsweek

30-07-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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When a family welcomed their new puppy, Lieutenant Ripley, into their home, they believed they were adopting an American Pit Bull Terrier.
She was rescued from a shelter specializing in pit bulls, but as the weeks passed and Ripley began to grow at an astonishing rate, her features sparked curiosity and a DNA test—which ultimately revealed an unexpected genetic makeup, shocking viewers in a post to Reddit.
In the post, the owner shared their story along with a plethora of photos of the pup.
A woman holds her Pitbull close to her.
A woman holds her Pitbull close to her."Adopted Lt. Ripley at 15 weeks old from a dedicated Pitbull rescue," they wrote. "They listed her as American Pit Bull Terrier. With her long snout and body type and coloration, we figured she was more hound than anything. I was thinking Plott Hound. Some people were saying Greyhound or Whippet."
Their initial guesses proved far from the mark when the DNA results came back: Ripley is a striking 50.8 percent Great Dane and 49.2 percent German Shepherd.
The revelation immediately captivated Redditors, who found the mix surprising and fascinating.
"Okay that is hilarious. I love her," one user commented. Another added, "That is such a neat mix! I'd guessed Sighthound/[German Shepherd] but I guess the lanky-ness I was seeing was the Dane!"
The dog's distinctive ears also provided a clue to some. "It's those ears, OP!" one person wrote, adding, "The 'weird/goofball floppy triangle' on top of the head—like they want to stick up, but have a mind of their own, and may just decide to walk off entirely one day' thing is 100 percent a [German Shepherd] thing!"
The owners, who were fully intending to adopt a Pitbull, embraced the surprise with open arms. The decision to adopt a new puppy came at a significant time for the family, as their beloved pit bull/Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix had recently passed away from cancer, and they were expecting their first child.
"We were hoping [our dog] be here to help raise our son," the owner shared in a comment. "It was a difficult decision to get a new puppy and try to train it in the short amount of time we have, but growing up with a dog is such a beautiful thing."
Ripley has already shown incredible progress in her new home.
"She has taken to our own training pretty seamlessly and is very intelligent," the owner wrote. Ripley is actively socialized, joining her owner for skateboarding sessions and runs at the local park where she interacts with other dogs. Despite being initially "highly skeptical of other humans," regular park visits have significantly helped her social skills.
But ultimately, Ripley's size has become the constant discussion point. She gained "40 pounds in two months and is around 60 pounds now," the owner wrote, leaving them to wonder "how much larger she'll get now that we know her actual breed mix." Despite the initial breed assumption, the family is thrilled with their intelligent and rapidly growing gentle giant.
Newsweek reached out to u/pleasedtomichu for comment via Reddit.