CANTON, NC – A family dog gave birth to a neon green puppy named Hulk.
Gypsy, a white shepherd dog by Shana Stamey, gave birth to eight puppies on Friday morning. The dog’s three-hour work went smoothly until the fourth puppy with light green fur showed up, Stamey said.
“I started freaking out,” Stamey told News. “But everyone was healthy.”
How did Hulk get its green color? Liquid from his mother’s stomach was likely to stain his fur in the womb, said Suzanne Cianciulli, manager of the Junaluska Animal Hospital in Waynesville.
Hulk’s green hue should fade under a constant routine of Gypsy baths and goodies in a few weeks, Mother Stamey said. As of Thursday, Hulk looked more like an Easter look than his namesake.
“He was very light green when he was born and now he looks light yellow with a hint of green,” said Stamey. Born at 15.6 ounces, Hulk weighs a whopping 1 pound, 8 ounces at 6 days, said Stamey.
She said she was shocked by little Hulk’s virality.
“I’m actually amazed at how many Hulk want to own,” said Stamey of the Citizen Times, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. “I never really intended to have such a following with him. I just thought he was special and unique.”
Stamey plans to “find a home forever” for the litter once they are about 8 weeks old.
“If I can’t find a home for everyone, we will only expand our family,” said Stamey. “I love them all so much.”
Contribute: The Associated Press
Follow Elizabeth Anne Brown on Twitter: @ eabrown18
This article originally appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times: Lime green puppy named Hulk was born the son of a North Carolina dog