An Italian dog named Spelacchia recently gave birth to a puppy with green fur, Reuters reports.
- The puppy was one of five in a litter born at a farm on the island of Sardinia. All of the dog’s brothers and sisters had white fur, which was the same as the mother’s own.
- So, the family named the dog Pistachio because of the green fur.
A green puppy has been born in Italy. His name is Pistachio. 💚
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 22, 2020
While rare, puppies can be born green because of a substance called biliverdin in their mother's womb. The green will eventually fade. pic.twitter.com/CPm8U7aPcB
But it won’t last long. Apparently Pistachio’s fur has already begun to change and fade away.
This is a rare thing. Per BBC News, puppies born with green fur “is believed to be a result of the puppy making contact with a green pigment called biliverdin while in the womb.”
Flashback:
This has happened before. In 2017, a green puppy was born stateside in Massachusetts, according to CBS News.
And, earlier this year, a green puppy was born in North Carolina. He was named The Hulk for his green fur, according to WNCN-TV.
The takeaway:
- Mallocci told Reuters that green can be a symbol of hope and luck. He said he hopes the green puppy will make people happier during the coronavirus pandemic.