This article originally appeared on Adopt a Pet.
Despite being a big dog, Marzen didn’t make a big first impression on many adopters. She was a large black dog with a graying muzzle and floppy ears. Her features didn’t exactly make her stand out from the crowd, and because of her withdrawn disposition, she was overlooked again and again.
After being brought to a small Texas shelter, Marzen lingered longer than anyone hoped. “Marzen was found wandering as a stray, and for far too long, her original shelter pleaded for a rescue placement,” says Charlotte Nolan, Adoption Program Manager at Animal Friends Alliance (AFA).
Marzen’s luck changed when Animal Friends Alliance (AFA) traveled south and spotted her. During their visit, they pulled as many dogs as they could transport, including Marzen, who was long overdue for a fresh start.
“When we first met Marzen, we immediately fell in love with her gentle spirit, despite everything she had endured,” Nolan says. “She seemed a bit shut down, but we knew that with the right environment, she would blossom into an incredibly loyal and loving companion.”
After being transferred to AFA, Marzen started the hard work of learning how to trust. Little by little, her sweet nature began to surface. To help her find a pet parent who truly understood her, Marzen was tested with a Wisdom Panel™ DNA test — part of a partnership with Adopt a Pet, that helps shelters and rescues boost pet adoptions.
DNA testing helped bring to light what adopters couldn’t see in a kennel: With 56 percent Great Dane ancestry, Marzen is a true gentle giant. She also has strong Doberman Pinscher roots and smaller traces of Plott Hound, Rottweiler, and American Pit Bull Terrier. While a dog’s breed is only a small predictor of behavior, the results helped explain her size, softness, and slow-burn affection. The testing didn’t change who Marzen was, but it helped showcase all she had to offer.
Today, Marzen is thriving after being adopted by an Animal Friends Alliance volunteers who developed a deep connection with her. Marzen’s story reminds us that the best matches aren’t always love at first sight or immediate connection. Sometimes real love comes later, with the one who’s been quietly waiting for someone to truly see them.
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Adopt a Pet has partnered with Wisdom Panel™ to provide clearer insight into the background and breeds of pets at shelters and rescues, helping adoptable pets find homes faster. Through this program, animal welfare organizations with an Adopt a Pet account can order Wisdom Panel Breed Discovery tests at a deep discount, making DNA testing more affordable and helping them market and match harder-to-adopt pets with the right home. If your organization has an Adopt a Pet account, learn more about the program and complete the interest form to participate.
