Latest news with #DiLello
Newsweek
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Puppy Has DNA Test—Results Shock Owner: 'Zero Golden Retriever'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog owner from Asbury Park, New Jersey, believed they had adopted a golden retriever—only to be surprised by the results of a DNA test. Gina DiLello, who goes by u/Pitiful_Raspberry_79 on Reddit, adopted Loki George after losing their 12-year-old yellow Labrador. They were convinced Loki George was part golden retriever. "We were sure he was part golden retriever, but we saw photos of his siblings who were darker than him and not at all golden looking. The adoption agency called him a golden retriever, AI told me he was a golden retriever, and we were telling people he was a golden mix when they asked. That prompted me to buy a DNA testing kit from Embark," DiLello told Newsweek. DiLello shared the results on the subreddit "Doggy DNA," where the post received 1,600 upvotes. The DNA test revealed Loki George's mix as 29 percent German shepherd, 26 percent beagle, 23.3 percent "Supermutt," and 21.7 percent Siberian Husky. "Zero golden retriever or lab," she wrote. DiLello explained that Loki George, named after the god of mischief, is a four-month-old energetic and talkative puppy who loves chewing everything in sight. "If he knows he's not supposed to do something he makes it his goal to do it. Once he gets sleepy he turns into a different dog—snuggly and cuddly and completely calm and loving," DiLello said. After losing their yellow lab in January, DiLello began searching for a golden retriever puppy to adopt. "I stalked every adoption site multiple times a day to find the right dog. I had applied for a bunch and once I got approved, the dog would be adopted already. One Sunday morning I found Loki George up for adoption at an agency in Connecticut 3.5 hours away. I immediately called and emailed asking if I could come up right then and bring him home. I sent them my application, they approved me, I called my fiancé who was on the beach to come home—we were going to Connecticut," DiLello said. A split image of Loki George the blonde dog. A split image of Loki George the blonde dog. Gina DiLello/Gina DiLello The DNA results came as a shock. "No golden retriever! No yellow lab! German shepherd we could see. But beagle, Siberian husky!? I needed Reddit's opinion on this and was validated in my shock. But no matter what the results we think he is the most perfect dog in the world," DiLello said. Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Chambers of Embrace Pet Insurance told Newsweek that dog DNA tests vary in quality. She recommended Wisdom Panel and Embark, which boast accuracy rates of 98-99 percent, adding that tests covering fewer genetic markers tend to be less accurate. Sian Lawley Rudd, an ethical dog trainer and trauma-informed coach at Lavender Garden Animal Services, shared insights about dog DNA tests: she's worked with many dog owners surprised by their dogs' breed results. "Sometimes they start looking for certain behaviours because they've read that there's a particular breed in the mix." She noted that breed plays a role in a dog's needs, energy, and instincts, and that activities they enjoy often relate to their breed lineage. However, she emphasized that breed mix is just one part of a bigger picture. For example, one of her clients had a relaxed, people-focused dog with a high percentage of guarding breed, which helped explain some behaviours but didn't change the dog's core needs for steady exercise, enrichment, and downtime. "Breed mix can be a useful guide when meeting your dog's needs, but it shouldn't be treated as a rigid blueprint for their behaviour," Rudd explained. Reddit users had a lot of fun with Loki George's surprising results. One commenter called him a "Golden Deceiver," while another asked, "What is in the super mutt?" The original poster responded: "Border collie, collie, boxer, and Australian shepherd!" Another user observed: "I definitely see the collie (both border collie and regular collie) in him. When it comes to genetics, my big brain always thought that mixed breed dogs take after whatever breed is their higher percentage in their DNA. I didn't know a dog could take after the smallest percentage breed. It's amazing how genetics work. The teeny tiny bit of Collie in him completely took over!" One user added: "Totally thought he was a golden until I saw those long leggies." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Boston Globe
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Somerville welcomes SOMEDAY Fest, a new free music and arts festival
Somerville resident Ryan DiLello, who edits SOME and co-founded the festival, describes SOMEDAY Fest as a 'scrappy' and accessible gateway to the city's arts community, citing free entry and a 2-to-10 p.m. runtime as factors that might pique the interest of folks passing through Union Square. Perhaps the rock riffs of Jonny Tex – two performers on the outdoor stage – will catch residents' attention and lead them to the festival's indoor stage, where folkier and pop-adjacent acts such as Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The event's grassroots nature was inspired by (who will also take the stage at SOMEDAY Fest). The free event paired live music with a variety of community-oriented workshops that empowered guests to learn skills like DJing and bike repairs. DiLello says he walked away from the festival feeling like a part of a 'very visible' creative community, and was galvanized to build upon that visibility with his own iteration. Advertisement After finding inspiration in his own backyard, he found financial support, too; neighborhood businesses like Remnant Brewing and Field & Vine stepped up as sponsors to supplement the $2500 grant. DiLello hopes that SOMEDAY Fest's impact will demonstrate the importance of arts grants in creative communities, especially in the face of executive orders that terminated National Endowment for the Arts grants for organizations like Advertisement 'This festival absolutely could not have happened without that grant money to get us off of the ground,' DiLello says. 'To create a lot of community joy around money that was placed within the trust of the arts I think is a huge way to stand up to that real misfortune.' It's also a way to help maintain the momentum of Somerville's music scene. The city's popular event DiLello says that SOMEDAY Fest isn't a replacement for NICE, but hopes that the event will offer guests a similar sense of connection that will empower them to be more active in the community. 'Whether that's event organizing, or releasing that next album, or forming a tenants' association, I just want that energy to be continued and passed between events and people,' he concludes. Advertisement GIG GUIDE At Roadrunner on To celebrate the highly-specific 22 ½ anniversary of her 2002 record 'Lost In Space,' and later brings the tour to Yola brings her shimmering, supersized "My Way" EP to The Sinclair on Friday. (Valeria Rios) Valeria Rios Also on complements the fluid funk and R&B of Leader Bank Pavilion kicks off its concert season on Advertisement On Friday, Sleigh Bells raise an art-rock ruckus at the Paradise Rock Club. (David Perez) David Perez The Paradise Rock Club shimmies with variety this weekend, courtesy of art-rock duo will also stick around for repeat performances this week, as the band holds court at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Judy Grunwald, left, in the Elvis shirt, and Beth Kaplan in the Ramones shirt, performing at the Rathskeller in Boston. Paul Robicheau NOW SPINNING New Zealand band Phoebe Rings offer their own slant on city pop with their debut LP 'Aseurai.' (Frances Carter) Frances Carter Phoebe Rings, 'Aseurai.' The debut record from Phoebe Rings is a fresh listen for fans of jazz and dream-pop – yet it doesn't fit squarely under either category. 'Aseurai' finds the New Zealand band stepping out with their own slant on city pop, twisting prismatic synths to project a rainbow of emotions. Advertisement Mt. Joy's fourth LP feels like a 13-track thesis on why they're a great fit for headlining festivals. (Caity Krone) Caity Krone Mt. Joy, BONUS TRACK Victoria Wasylak can be reached at . Follow her on Bluesky @
