When one couple adopted a 10-month-old puppy from a nearby shelter, they thought they were getting a dachshund mix—but Dan and Kelsey Bradley were in for a surprise.
The couple, who live in Central Kentucky, were eager to welcome a new furry family member and headed to the shelter where they adopted Carolina Honey Maybell.
“Being a shelter dog, we wanted to have a more holistic view of her so that we could anticipate any potential health issues or concerns,” Kelsey Bradley told Newsweek. “We were told she could be a dachshund mix because of an overabundance of unethical breeders in the area. We were told that someone dumped her by the back door of the shelter, and she appeared to be a runt.”
It wasn’t long after Carolina came home that the couple discovered she wasn’t a dachshund mix. Thanks to a canine DNA test, they discovered she was actually a beagle and German shepherd mix.
Kelsey was particularly surprised, having previously said she would never have a beagle because of their reputation for destroying things and having strong hunting instincts.
“We were so shocked by the results. Mainly because I had always told my husband that I didn’t want to own a beagle due to their destructive nature and need to hunt,” Kelsey said. “But she has been the silliest and most pleasant surprise ever.”
The couple’s other dog, Charlie, has particularly benefited from Carolina coming to live with the family.
Dan Bradley said: “We needed to give our beloved Charlie a friend, wife, and companion. He was having a lonely time. We took him to Cincinnati, and he was so scared of all the bigger dogs, street grates, and didn’t have any friends. He later had a nightmare that made him cry in his sleep. Then we brought her home. He ran circles around the yard in excitement. He never seemed happier to meet a new dog.”
Pictures of Carolina on a car seat; and (right) wrapped in a rug. She is actually a beagle and German shepherd mix.
The Bradleys shared Carolina’s story on the popular Reddit community r/rarepuppers, where the post has received more than 1,500 upvotes and lots of comments from animal lovers.
“Beagle hardware, Dobie software lol [laugh out loud]. Beautiful girl,” posted one commenter, while another wrote: “What an absolutely gorgeous girl! And so photogenic. I don’t doubt the chaos but she looks like she more than makes up for it with love!”
Kelsey said: “We wanted to share on Reddit because we are those crazy, obsessed pet parents, and we always advocate for people to check out their local shelters to find their new best friends. Our favorite breed of dog is a shelter dog.”