After Rescuing Rare “Dog,” Family Learns The Surprising Truth About Their New Pet
Like many families, this one turned to adoption when they decided to welcome a dog into their lives. They were overjoyed to bring home a puppy they believed was a rare and special breed. At first, everything seemed perfect—the pup was cute, energetic, and full of personality.
But as the weeks went by, small clues began to spark doubt. Something about the pup's behavior, looks, or development just didn’t seem quite right. The excitement gradually turned into uncertainty. Then came a shocking discovery—one no one could have anticipated. Keep reading to uncover the truth behind their surprising find…
Ready For A Dog
Su Yun, a devoted mother living with her husband and two children in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, lived a quiet, family-focused life. Hoping to add a bit more joy to their home, she decided to adopt a dog—both as a companion for her kids and a cheerful addition to their everyday routine.
What started as a simple and heartfelt decision soon turned into something truly extraordinary. That one choice set off a strange and unforgettable chain of events—one that would not only change their family forever but also make headlines across the globe.
The Trip That Changed Everything
In 2016, feeling the strain of raising young children, Su Yun decided her family was overdue for a break. She began planning a vacation that would offer both relaxation and excitement—a chance for the whole family to unwind and reconnect.
But as they were getting ready to leave, fate stepped in with a surprise. While tying up some last-minute details, Su Yun stumbled upon a litter of irresistibly cute puppies. That spontaneous encounter quickly became the focus, changing the course of their trip in ways she never anticipated.
An Unexpected Occurrence
Su Yun and her family were excited to finally embark on their long-awaited vacation. While out walking with her children, they stumbled upon a group of puppies for sale.
Her kids had been asking for a puppy for a while, and the sight of the adorable pups tugged at Su Yun's heart. Acting on impulse, she decided to adopt one then and there.
She Was Given A Warning
After purchasing the puppy, the seller shared some key details about their new furry companion. He explained that the pup was a Tibetan Mastiff—a breed known to grow over two feet tall and weigh as much as 180 pounds.
Despite knowing their dog would eventually become a giant, the family was thrilled with their decision. They named him Little Black, inspired by his dark coat and the impressive size he was expected to reach.
They Adored Their New Family Member
Throughout the rest of their vacation, the family quickly bonded with Little Black and eagerly anticipated bringing him home. Once they returned, they faced a few important decisions about how best to care for their new pet.
Kunming City's mild climate allows many animals to live comfortably outdoors, so the family had to consider whether Little Black would be an indoor companion or spend most of his time outside.
They Wanted To Keep Him Close
In the end, the family decided that they wanted to raise Little Black as an indoor dog in order to keep him as close to the family as possible.
As Little Black slowly grew, the family soon learned that he had quite the appetite for such a small dog. However, Little Black seemed to be adjusting to his new home just fine so the family didn't think that they had anything to worry about.
Insatiable Hunger
Much like the seller had promised, Little Black did not stay small for very long. On top of that, they couldn't help but notice that their new dog had an insatiable appetite.
Although they know that puppies need food to grow, they had no idea that Little Black would eat this much food, and its diet was beyond strange. Every day, Little Black would easily eat an entire box of fruit and two whole buckets of noodles!
Little Black's Eating Became A Problem
For most other dogs, eating so much fruit and noodles each day would probably make them extremely sick. However, Little Black seemed completely unaffected by his diet, and if anything would eat more if he could.
At this point, things were starting to get out of control, and the family began to suspect that something was wrong. By the time Little Black was just one year old, Su Yun had already spent a fortune on all of his food.
He Kept Growing
As time passed, Little Black continued to grow, as well as his appetite. At first, the family was only concerned by how much Little Black was eating; now they were starting to question his size too!
The family had known that their dog was going to be big, but they were completely unprepared for how big he was actually getting. When he was three years old, Little Black was over 250 pounds and stood over three feet tall.
Su Yun Saw Something Strange In The Kitchen
Although it's not entirely unusual for dogs to be bigger than the average size for their breed, there were other hints that maybe Little Black wasn't what they thought. On one occasion, Su Yun saw something in the kitchen that she couldn't ignore.
She saw Little Black standing on his hind legs like a human might. It was at that moment that Su Yun knew that there was something seriously wrong about Little Black and she needed to find out what it was.
Looking For Other Clues
Incredibly, Su Yun seeing Little Black standing on his hind legs wasn't a one-time occurrence. More and more, she would encounter the pet standing up, and it really started to scare her.
She started studying the dog to see if anything else strange was happening. She also noticed that the dog's teeth were proportionate to his size and that as Little Black grew, his snout was becoming more prominent than a typical Tibetan Mastiff's would.
He Became Too Big For The House
As Su Yun became more concerned about their pet, her children were enjoying all of the attention they were getting for having the biggest dog around. Slowly, word spread about the unique dog in the neighborhood.
However, it got to the point that Little Black was so big that there was no room for him inside the house. So, the family had to build a makeshift shelter in the backyard for him. But this didn't solve any of their problems.
He Had Behavioral Changes
While Little Black's teeth, snout, and size were all indicators that something was off, what was really scary was how much more aggressive he had become. Luckily, no one was hurt, but Little Black began lashing out at Su Yun and her family.
It was around this time that Su Yun also realized that she had never heard Little Black bark, and the only noises that it made sounded like a roar, unlike any sound most dogs would make.
Su Yun Was Fearful
By the time Little Black was two years old, Su Yun had become afraid of him. Even though he was living outside due to his size, he made her feel incredibly uneasy. By this time, Su Yun could barely even get Little Black on a leash to go for a walk.
Concerned for her family, Su Yun took to the Internet to try and learn more about the dog she had adopted, convinced that she didn't have an ordinary pet.
Learning The Truth
After investigating Little Black's abnormally sized teeth, weight, and his ability to stand on its hind legs, Su Yun was shocked by what she learned. She discovered that what she thought was supposed to be a Tibetan Mastiff was something else entirely.
It turns out that the adorable puppy she had adopted was actually a black bear! Stunned, she didn't know what to do with this information, but she knew she had to do something to protect her family.
Not An Ordinary Black Bear
Upon further research, Su Yun learned that the bear they once thought was a dog wasn't just any ordinary black bear. Little Black was actually an Asiatic Black Bear which is also frequently called a Tibetan Bear or a Himalayan Bear.
This specific breed of bear is known to only grow to a medium size, which is why the family assumed it was a dog for so long. But still, these bears can reach 440 pounds and stand over six feet tall!
A Tricky Situation
Thankfully, Asiatic Bears like Little Black aren't carnivorous, and their diet mostly consists of plants. However, they have been known to become aggressive towards humans, especially if aggravated. Luckily, no one in Su Yun's family had been harmed by Little Black yet.
Regardless, Su Yun knew that she had to do something about the situation, especially considering that owning a bear in China could result in a jail sentence. Su Yun knew she had a serious problem on her hands.
Calling The Professionals
Although Su Yun and her family had grown to love their pet, she knew that their home was no place for a bear. She knew that she needed to have the bear removed, but she didn't even know where to start.
Her first thought was to call the local zoo to see if maybe they could take Little Black. Unfortunately, without a birth certificate, there was no way that the zoo could take the animal in.
Informing The Authorities
At this point, even though she was nervous, Su Yun decided to call the police. After all, she hadn't bought a bear intentionally and was misled to believe that it was a Tibetan Mastiff.
Also, she hadn't abused Little Black in any way, and if anything, had provided it with the best home that she could, considering the circumstances. After making the call, the police and wildlife experts at the Forest Public Security Bureau were there in minutes.
Telling Her Story
When the authorities arrived, Su Yun explained her side of the story and answered any questions that they had. In an interview, she claimed, "the more [Little Black] grew, the more like a bear he looked [...]" and that she was scared of bears.
After hearing what Su Yun had to say, they made their way to the backyard and were speechless by what they found.
The Officials Were Shocked
Upon arriving in the backyard, the police and forestry officials were confronted with what Su Yun had been living with, a giant animal sitting in a caged area. Just by looking at it, everyone knew that it wasn't a dog, and after inspecting the animal, concluded that he was in fact, a bear.
They then began to as Su Yun questions about where she adopted Little Black, how she raised him, and why it took so long for her to figure it out.
Handling The Situation
While the police were gathering more information about how Su Yun and her family accidentally adopted a bear, the wildlife experts got to work looking after Little Black. The experts checked to make sure that the bear was in good health and hadn't sustained any injuries or was malnourished.
Of course, Su Yun waited nervously to see if she would be punished for having a bear living at her home. She hoped that everyone would understand the situation.
Everything Checked Out
After a quick check-up on Little Black, the wildlife experts occluded that the bear was well-fed, healthy, and actually happy with its current situation.
However, now they had to figure out how they were going to transfer Little Black to the nearby wildlife rescue center. They concluded that the best solution would be to tranquilize him so that he could be transported safely.
All Eyes Were On Su Yun
After Little Black had been transported to the wildlife center, Su Yun's fears became a reality. The fact that she had unknowingly kept a potentially dangerous bear in her backyard sparked a lot of controversy.
Su Yun was soon all over the news with people wondering how she mistook a bear for a dog. When National Geographic reported on the story it became a viral sensation with other people coming forward claiming that they had adopted the wrong animal as well.
The Verdict
Su Yun continued to cooperate with the police, which greatly helped her out in the long run. Although Asiatic Bears are a protected species in China, Su Yun was able to avoid jail time and was assured any penalty she might receive would be reduced for her help.
Although it was a huge ordeal for the family and Little Black, everything worked out in the end for everyone. Little Black had a new home suitable for him, and the family no longer had a bear in their yard. Su Yun and her family miss their former pet and hope to be reunited with him someday.
