Just when you believe you’ve encountered everything about dogs and their cuteness couldn’t reach new heights, you discover a canine named Enzo that astounds you.
Enzo Viola (full title: Lorenzo deMedici Splotch Viola) is an English Cream Golden Retriever whose unusual “birthmark” has attracted him thousands of admirers on social media.
This stunning Golden lad was born with a unique genetic alteration that resulted in a distinct appearance on his face compared to other dogs.
The Golden Retriever breed usually possesses a solid-colored coat, yet little Enzo was born with what his family affectionately refers to as a ‘lil’ Freckle’.
Mister Enzo has a large patch of black fur surrounding one of his eyes and cascading down the side of his face, earning him the nickname the black-splotched Golden.
Prior to being introduced to Enzo, I had never encountered such a phenomenon, and I think the majority of people are similarly unaware.
This sort of mutation is exceptionally uncommon, with only 1 in 900,000 dogs having it. The scientific designation for it is Pigmented Somatic Cell Mutation. In simple terms, it is akin to a human birthmark.
Ella Castro, Enzo’s mother, detailed to The Dodo: “Golden retrievers are born with a base black coat, with a ‘modifier gene’ that turns them golden. Almost every dog has this modifier. Enzo has a little hiccup in his DNA that erased it on that one part of his face.”
This little hiccup in Enzo’s DNA has rendered him a very exceptional pup.
Mister Enzo boasts his own Instagram account, which has attracted over 197K followers who have fallen for him.
The Castro family from Texas is Enzo’s guardians and they share his daily escapades with the wider community through images and videos.
They describe Enzo as “pro napper, sock stealer, long-walk enthusiast, kiss giver, and fuzzy snuggler.”
He was welcomed into the family in 2016 when he was merely 2 months old. Aside from his unusual birthmark, he has always behaved like any other puppy.
Dr. Christopher Reeder from BluePearl Pet Hospital mentioned, “Apart from the altered coat color and the intriguing pattern it creates, this seems to have no other negative consequences. Virtually any dog breed can exhibit this trait.”
Even though he is extraordinarily unique, Enzo is just like any other Golden Retriever who is sociable and enjoys playtime.
Castro remarked, “Most folks don’t realize he’s a golden, so they frequently inquire about his breed and assume he’s a mutt, as goldens are generally solid colored.”
Clarissa Castro, the daughter, stated to Mirror.co.uk, “We had the pleasure of meeting Enzo and his siblings, and we immediately fell for Enzo not only because of his markings but because he was the most affectionate and playful puppy.”
An additional remarkable trait of Enzo is his atypical size for his breed; though there’s no evidence linking this to his mutation.
Aside from that, he is just like any other canine that appears slightly different from his breed.
If you ever have the chance to meet Enzo, you will perceive that he embodies the essence of a “good boy” with his kind disposition, immense affection, and joyful demeanor.
