Dog Owner Explains Meaning Behind Rescue’s Rare Birthmark: ‘No Coincidence’

A rescue golden retriever with an unusual birthmark has taken the internet by storm, but his owner has told Newsweek that it actually has a very sentimental meaning that helped them form an instant connection.

Dog owner Shannon Eschman, 37, often posts on social media (@peeta_the_golden) about her rescue dog, Peeta, and the unusual black birthmark that covers part of his chest. The adorable pup looks like a purebred golden retriever, apart from the patch, which truly makes him stand out.

Whenever she’s out walking Peeta, Eschman gets stopped by people who are fascinated by the birthmark, as they’ve never seen anything like it. But for Eschman, of Massillon, Ohio, it’s no ordinary birthmark, and she told Newsweek that as soon as she saw him, she “knew he was made just for [her].”

Prior to adopting Peeta, Eschman had Brinkley the golden retriever, and Millie Mae, a rescue who was a mix of chow chow, husky and German shepherd. She sadly had to say goodbye to Brinkley in February 2021 at the age of 14, and her grief was unfathomable. She still had Millie Mae, but she couldn’t imagine getting another dog at the time. That was, until she saw Peeta, who seemed to carry a part of Brinkley and Millie Mae within him.

Eschman said: “I was still grieving the loss of Brinkley, and I felt this hole in my heart that I didn’t think I would ever get back. When Peeta was posted on Facebook through a rescue, I cried because I knew his purpose.

“I felt an instant connection because of his birthmark. It was so special to me. I always look for signs that the pets we lose are still with us, and I couldn’t have asked for a bigger sign. It was no coincidence, so I filled out the application for Peeta within seconds,” she continued.

Peeta was rescued in June 2021, and Eschman was told by the rescue that he was being rehomed because he’d recently lost his brother and seemed lost without him. As she herself was also grieving, Eschman knew this made the bond with Peeta even stronger and that they could help each other.

After finding his forever home, Peeta got to spend his first three years alongside Millie Mae, until she sadly passed away in August 2024. She was 15 years old, and Eschman said she “stayed as long as she could.” Just like Brinkley, she brought so much happiness into her life.

“Brinkley and Millie were my first two soul dogs. I knew that, when I was ready, I would get another golden retriever, but now I had the best of both worlds. I have my Brinkley and my Millie,” Eschman told Newsweek.

“I have endless pictures of Brinkley’s and Millie’s gold and black fur touching, and now I have it all in Peeta. I felt like I got a piece of my heart back. It’s inevitable that they can’t be with us forever, but they did their best to make sure I always have a piece of them.”

Peeta has helped Eschman heal so much, and she is so grateful for the unconditional love he provides. Although Peeta likely has no idea of the impact he’s had, he can’t help but love all the attention he gets for his birthmark.

“He knows he’s special and he flaunts it,” Eschman joked.

Since posting about his sentimental birthmark on Instagram, the post went viral with more than 1.6 million views and 460,000 likes at the time of writing. Alongside the heartbreaking pictures, the caption says that it “means more than a birthmark,” as Peeta has brought back a part of her late dogs.

The online reaction has been unlike anything she was expecting, and Eschman hopes that it will encourage others to look for invaluable signs that their beloved pets are still with them in some way.

She said: “I know all our pets are put in our lives for a reason, and no matter how long they are here, it’s never long enough. Our time with them goes way too fast, but never give up hope that they are always with you. If we gave at least one person hope that their baby is still with them, we’ve done our job.”

The viral TikTok post has amassed over 3,100 comments already, and many social media users thanked Eschman for giving them hope, and some even shared stories of the signs they looked for.

One comment reads: “This is extremely rare and 100% heaven sent.”

Another person wrote: “literally just got chills through my whole body.”

While one TikToker added: “As someone who lost her two soul dogs, this made my jaw drop. This baby was meant for you.”

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