Customer Stories
Our customers make discoveries possible. Hear directly from Embark customers about how DNA testing helped shape the care of their dogs and read heartwarming relative reunion stories.
Goudacris Beats Heartworm and Finds His Chicago Family
A Chicago-based animal rescue recently helped a sweet, silly, mixed-breed dog named Goudacris survive a months-long battle with heartworm. One Tail at a Time took in this 82-pound gentle giant more than six months ago from a shelter in Tennessee. In a true underdog story, Goudacris made a full recovery from this serious disease, took...
“Bundle of Joy” Bamm-Bamm Finds His Home
At just four months old, little Bamm-Bamm shares a few similarities with his namesake, Bamm-Bamm Rubble from The Flintstones. They’re both strong for their age and they were both adopted by loving parents. “As soon as we laid eyes on him, we knew he was our guy,” say Patrick and Kendra, Bamm-Bamm’s adoptive parents. “He...
Lieutenant Dan is One in a Million
Lieutenant Dan (Lt. Dan) was found on the side of the road in North Carolina in May 2017. Named after the character Lieutenant Dan Taylor from the film Forrest Gump, Lt. Dan the dog is paralyzed in both hind legs. But that doesn’t stop him from running and playing with the help of his wheelchair....
Vardis Reunites With His Long-Lost Sister, Brunch
Vardis, a sweet-faced rescue pup, had spent most of his life in shelters and foster homes as he waited for his forever family. Along the way, with the help of an Embark dog DNA test, Vardis reunited with a special someone—his long-lost sister, Brunch. Their heartwarming reunion story appeared in The Dodo, People, and The...
How Restoring Rave’s Gut Health Helped Her Love Mealtime
Most dogs love their food. So when puppy Rave refused to eat, Liz Burke was worried. Liz has three dogs: Rave, a three-year-old Border Collie; Wasabi, a two-year-old Border Collie; and Bishop, a nine-year-old mixed-breed dog. Liz’s family includes three domestic shorthair cats: Cyril Figgis, Archer, and Owen. After years of trying new diets—none of...
How Dog DNA Testing Helps Willie Nelson Prevent Kidney Stones
When Julana and her husband adopted Willie Nelson, they suspected he was 100% German Shepherd Dog, due to his black and tan coat pattern. But as he got older, they noticed that his size was smaller than they expected for a German Shepherd. They decided to use an Embark dog DNA test to find out...
How a Dog DNA Test Helped Save Molly’s Life
When she brought Molly to the veterinarian for a regular physical exam, Sue Benner didn’t expect to find a genetic health risk. That surprise finding may have saved Molly’s life. Sue took Molly, her 4-month old purebred Keeshond puppy, to see Dr. Sharon Minninger at Telford Veterinary Hospital in Souderton, Pennsylvania for a physical examination...
Embark Test Reveals Diego and Companion Dixie Are Siblings
What would you do if you found out your beloved pup would eventually become blind? When Jane Flanders Salazar did an Embark dog DNA test for her dog Diego, she learned that he had two copies of a genetic variant that meant he would eventually lose his eyesight. As reported in Newsweek, Jane rescued a...
“Mason Mason” Rescues His Rescue Family
It’s not a typo—Mason Mason is an adventurous dog who has trekked across 100+ miles of nature trails. Camping, kayaking, backpacking in the snow… he’s done it all. Even more importantly, this all-weather rescue pup brought love and healing to the Mason family during a time of need. Why did you Embark Mason? Mason is...
Embark Customer Stories: The Winston Family
When Winston came home to his new pet parents Griff and Laurel, he was a 50-pound bundle of sweetness and energy. A one-year-old rescue dog from Tennessee, Winston’s personality was immediately apparent—but wasn’t as clear as his breed, his background, and his health profile. That’s why Griff and Laurel turned to Embark. Earlier this year,...
Taco’s Embark Journey
Meet Taco 🐾 What’s his adoption story? He was adopted in March of this year from Saving Hope Rescue when he was just 3 months old. What does Taco like to do? Taco enjoys going for walks with his older brother, Shugart, and lounging on the back of the couch like a cat 🐈 Were...
Tater’s Breed Reveal
Meet Tater 🐾 He was rescued in Texas, but now lives in Florida where he spends most of his time going on hikes⛰️, visiting the beach🏖️, and wading in practically any body of water 🌊 “For the longest time, I thought he was a long-haired Chihuahua and Dachshund mix. He has NO Dachshund and instead,...