A woman in New York experienced an unexpected twist after adopting what she believed to be a tiny chihuahua puppy. Madison Austin, who sought a small dog suitable for apartment living during the pandemic, found Henry online and quickly contacted the seller. The puppy was advertised as a four-pound male chihuahua, but Madison soon began to question this classification.
After bringing Henry home, she noted, “From the moment we got him, we thought, ‘Hmm… his paws definitely look big.'” Initially, the couple believed Henry was at least part chihuahua; however, his rapid growth over the following weeks raised concerns. Madison recounted the confusion, stating, “We still thought he was at least part chihuahua. I remember talking to my husband about whether or not his ears were eventually going to stand up.”
Within a couple of months, the situation became clearer. Henry’s weight began to increase significantly, reaching up to five pounds per week. Their veterinarian ultimately confirmed that the dog was not a chihuahua, stating, “Sorry to break it to you, but this dog is definitely not a chihuahua!”
Madison and her husband had initially invested in an expensive electronic pee pad, anticipating a smooth training process. Instead, they ended up spending considerably more on dog food than they had planned. Despite the initial mix-up, the couple’s experience with Henry took a positive turn.
They eventually welcomed two children and embraced Henry’s large size. Now weighing approximately 95 pounds, Henry has been identified as a Labrador retriever. Reflecting on their unconventional journey, Madison expressed gratitude, saying, “We thought we wanted a small pup because of our lifestyle, but we are so happy he ended up being so big. We have so much fun with him, and he’s got a heart of gold.”
On her Instagram page, where she shares updates about Henry, followers have reacted with amusement and surprise. One user commented, “Girl, I mean this in the nicest way, but have you ever seen a chihuahua?” Another noted, “Little Henry wasn’t even little. What were you thinking?” A third user humorously added, “Ma’am, I have bad news. I don’t think that’s a Labrador either… mix, sure, but pure? No.”
Despite the initial confusion over Henry’s breed, Madison is convinced that he was meant to be part of their family. “Sometimes we don’t even know what we need in our lives until it finds us,” she said. “I have no doubt Henry was meant to be ours, and I can’t imagine life without him in our family.”
This story serves as a reminder that sometimes, what we think we want may lead us to unexpected joys.
