As a puppy, Zira was trapped in an overcrowded shelter with her mom and siblings, facing a tragic fate when they were put on the euthanasia list. Fortunately, a compassionate woman named Michaela Hyle learned of their plight and rushed to the shelter, ultimately saving Zira and one of her brothers. From that moment on, their lives transformed forever.
The Pup’s Unusual Appearance
Hyle provided Zira with the loving forever home she desperately needed, while her brother was also adopted into a caring family. Zira blossomed into an affectionate dog who delights in snuggling and playing, enjoying a life filled with love alongside her mom. Now, at eleven years old, Zira remains energetic, playing with her canine siblings, Buckeye and Kasson. Although she appears to be a typical dog, her unusual look sparked speculation about her breed.
Hyle knew Zira was a mixed breed but initially had no idea what the exact mix was. It wasn’t just Hyle who noticed; her father humorously suggested that Zira resembled a coyote, and upon first meeting her, Hyle’s husband also joked about the coyote comparison. While the shelter staff had claimed Zira was a mix of Rottweiler and German Shepherd, Hyle found that hard to believe due to Zira’s distinctive appearance. Eager to uncover Zira’s true heritage, Hyle longed for a DNA test, which her husband decided to gift her for Christmas.
Zira’s Family Reveals Her DNA Results
When the DNA results arrived, the couple was thrilled and shared their excitement on TikTok. Before unveiling the results, they made predictions about Zira’s breed mix—Hyle’s husband surmised that Zira would be a mix of Carolina Dog, Siberian Husky, and Coyote, while Hyle guessed she’d have Cattle Dog and Carolina Dog in her lineage. The results were astonishing, revealing Zira to be predominantly 19% Rottweiler, 16% Australian Cattle Dog, 14% Pit Bull Terrier, 7% Siberian Husky, and 5% American Staffordshire Terrier. She was also a blend of multiple other breeds including Border Collie, German Shepherd, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, Alaskan Malamute, Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, Dalmatian, English Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, and Airedale Terrier.
The test results surprised the Arizona couple, especially since they had expected traits of Carolina Dog to emerge but found none. Nevertheless, they delighted in the process of uncovering Zira’s true genetic makeup, confirming their suspicions that she certainly wasn’t a coyote.
