Shana Stamey and her family had no doubt that their gorgeous white German Shepherd, Gypsy, would give birth to some adorable puppies. However, the Clyde, North Carolina, residents would have never guessed that one of the eight canines born on January 10, 2020, would emerge into the world with a stunning lime-green coat!
“I started freaking out,” said Stamey. “I knew it wasn't harmful, but I still had to look it up again to make sure.”
She was right. Suzanne Cianciulli, a veterinarian technician at the nearby Junaluska Animal Hospital, has a simple explanation for the puppy's unusual coloring: poop. The expert told CNN, "Each puppy is located within their own sac in the uterus, and the sac is full of fluid. If they have meconium [an infant mammal's first stool] in that sac, it will actually stain their fur."
Stamey and her family considered several names for the newborn, including Gremlin, Pistachio, and even Mr. Green. However, after observing his aggressive personality, they decided to name him Hulk, after the green-skinned Marvel superhero. "It was lime green. He was super mad. So, yeah, he became Hulk,” Stamey said.
Unfortunately, the coloring is temporary and Hulk's fur, which has already started to appear more yellow than green, will turn the expected white within a few weeks. “I wish he would stay green forever,” Stamey said. “But as she [Hulk’s mom] licks him more and cleans him more, and once I can give him his first bath, it’ll probably fade away.”
However, Stamey, who plans to put the eight puppies up for adoption once they are old enough, believes Hulk will always be a one-of-a-kind pup. “He’s definitely a good luck charm,” she says. “He’s a pretty special dog.”
Resources: Today.com, Huffpost.com, wlos.com
