Woman Adopts 'Cuddly' Shelter Puppy—No One Expecting What He Turns Into

Newsweek

3 days ago

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A woman who adopted a puppy from a local shelter had no idea what he would look like as an adult, only for him to transform into a highly unusual-looking dog.
Anna Winning, 34, adopted puppy Rolo from the Cork Dog Action Welfare Group (DAWG) in 2024, when he was around nine weeks old. She had wanted a dog for a long time, and when her sister-in-law sent her a photo of Rolo at the shelter, they organized a visit—and were immediately "smitten."
Rolo was tiny at the time, and a shelter worker asked if Winning and her husband, David, were certain, because "he's going to be big."
As she told Newsweek: "We didn't realize how right she'd be," as Rolo grew, and grew, and grew—into a uniquely beautiful big dog.
"I could tell by his ribcage that he was a lurcher, but based on his colorings, we thought it was crossed with a rottweiler. But as he grew, his face was definitely the wrong shape," she said.
"What was most noticeable—apart from his long legs!—was his wispy eyebrows that kept getting longer and longer. His fur also got longer and thicker, and it was coming in quite gray which can make him look older than he is! His blue eyes turned golden, which get loads of compliments."
Rolo's transformation has now gone viral, after DAWG shared an update on their former puppy to their Facebook page, Cork Dog Action Welfare Group, on August 1.
Rolo as a puppy.
Rolo as a puppy.
Anna Winning/ Cork Dog Action Welfare Group
In the post, they explained how Rolo and his brother had come into their care after a person who claimed to have found them abandoned "dropped off two very young and tiny puppies," with "no idea" of their breed or parentage.
At the time, they said, "Rolo was very sick and was touch and go a couple of times"—but as he recovered, and after being taken in by experienced foster Emma, Winning and her husband contacted the shelter.
They were "looking for a cuddly friend who likes walking," DAWG said. But, "we couldn't predict just how big and cuddly he would get! Rolo has turned into a STUNNER!"
The shelter shared photos of Rolo as a puppy, with his brown, tan and white markings and unusual green eyes, his large paws at such a young age already hinting that he would become a big dog.
But no one expected what he would look like as an adult: in updated photos, Rolo is enormous, with brown-and-blonde wiry fur, and bright golden eyes.
The dog is tall and long, with a narrow face, long legs and a slender body—and his post racked up more than 1,300 likes, as commenters were in disbelief at the transformation.
"Stunning looking dog," one user wrote, with another agreeing he is an "absolute stunner," and more calling him "beautiful."
"What a beautiful dog the markings are gorgeous. So glad he is well and happy," another said.
Rolo now, at 11 months old.
Rolo now, at 11 months old.
Anna Winning/ Cork Dog Action Welfare Group
Many guessed at what his breed could be, with suggestions ranging from a lurcher and Saluki to an Irish Wolfhound—and many more praised DAWG, Rolo's foster family, and his new owners, for giving him a happy life.
And Winning revealed to Newsweek that those commenters were all right: after being "stopped all the time from people asking what he is, as he's just so unusual," they undertook a DNA test.
Rolo is a mix of a Saluki, a greyhound, and has 2 percent Scottish deerhound heritage, which she described as a "smaller version of an Irish wolfhound, so people weren't far off."
Speaking about her beloved pet, who at 11 months old likely still has "some growing to do," she described a "very sweet," but "stubborn at times" dog who loves a nap "in one of his many beds."
"He loves to chew on anything he can get a hold of, but thankfully has mostly left our furniture alone! He has a few friends he likes to play with at the park, and his favorite thing is chasing and being chased.
"He's very fast but occasionally meets his match! When he's playing with other dogs, nothing else is as important—not even his favourite treats of chicken or cheese can stop him playing."
In the United States, millions of animals like Rolo are in need: in 2024 alone, 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues across the country, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
At the same time, 4.2 million shelter animals were adopted the same year.
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