A rescue dog brought to the U.S. from South Korea’s canine meat trade has gone viral after her owner discovered she is a purebred Tosa Inu—a rare and powerful Japanese mastiff—rather than the Jindo mix they were expecting, according to DNA results shared online.
The discovery was revealed in a March 13 shared to Reddit by the dog’s owner under u/keeperofcarl, which has since been upvoted more than 2,000 times. The post featured a carousel of photos showing the canine, named Aja, including a screenshot of her Embark results, which read: “100 percent Tosa (Inu).”
“Korean Meat Trade Rescue, Surprise!” the post’s caption read. “We foster failed this cutie over the summer, the shelter had a group of dogs listed as Jindo mixes, brought over from an illegal meat breeding facility in South Korea. What a neat surprise!”
Aja, formerly known as Somi, is a 4‑ to 5‑year‑old female rescued through Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook, Illinois. She was brought to the U.S. as part of a group of canines removed from an illegal meat breeding facility, her owner told Newsweek.
“We initially thought she may be a Jindo mix, as those are one of the most-prevalent breeds in the Korean dog meat markets,” the owner said.
Dog meat has since been outlawed in South Korea, with a multi‑year transition period in place, following a landmark bill passed by the National Assembly criminalizing the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of canines for human consumption. Under the new law, passed in 2024, those operating dog-meat farms have a three-year grace period before the change is fully enforced.
Aja’s New Life
Aja entered her home through what was meant to be a short‑term fostering arrangement.
In July 2025, the rescue put out a call for two‑week fosters to free up kennel space.
“We had talked about fostering before, and thought a two‑week time frame would be a great way to test-drive fostering,” her owner said.
At the time, the family had a large senior dog, Carl, who was selective but comfortable around calm pups. After the original foster canine became unavailable, staff suggested Aja as a good energy match. Within days, it was clear the arrangement would be permanent.
“I think it was a few days in that my husband came home and said, ‘we’re keeping her, right?’” the owner said.
From the outset, Aja kept her distance from people.
“From the start, it was very clear that Aja didn’t trust people,” the dog’s owner said.
While Aja was fully house‑trained, walked well on a leash and showed curiosity about her surroundings, she largely observed her humans from afar. She bonded instead with Carl.
“She’d initiate play with Carl, and they’d nap nearby each other regularly,” the owner said.
After Carl’s death earlier this year, the household dynamic shifted again. Believing Aja had likely lived with many dogs previously—and suspecting she may have been used as a breeder—the family decided to begin fostering puppies.
The change proved transformative.
“Aja absolutely blossomed with the puppies,” her owner said. “Given how powerful the Tosa Inu is, it’s been incredible watching her ‘momma dog’ the puppies.”
As the puppies warmed up to human affection, Aja appeared to follow their lead.
“It seems like she’s viewing us in a more-positive light,” her owner said. “Watching her growth and seeing her personality shine has been so heartwarming.”
Aja’s name reflects that journey. Inspired by her worried expression and a Korean phrase meaning encouragement, her owner said they discovered “Aja, Aja,” an expression meant to urge someone to keep going.
“As soon as I saw that, I texted my husband, and we agreed we had to name her Aja,” the owner said.
When the Embark results arrived, the family was stunned.
“We had an idea there may be mastiff or Tosa Inu mixed in, based on our research of the meat markets,” the owner said. “Finding out she is purebred Tosa Inu was such a fun surprise!
“This is a VERY powerful dog,” Aja’s owner added. “I want to encourage people to be responsible and realistic about what dog fits their lifestyle best.”
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