Shamrock, the Golden Retriever Puppy Born Green, Is Living a 'Lucky' Life in a New Home with a New Fur Color (Exclusive)

• In March 2024, a Golden Treasures Kennel golden retriever gave birth to a litter of puppies shortly before St. Patrick's Day
• One of the puppies was born with green fur, a harmless color change caused by biliverdin getting into a dog's amniotic fluid, and named Shamrock
• Shamrock has since lost her green coloring and has found her forever home

Shamrock is growing up!

A Pensacola, Fla., breeder welcomed a lucky litter in March 2024 when one of her golden retrievers gave birth to puppies two weeks before St. Patrick's Day. One of the puppies, who's since earned the name Shamrock, was born with a dark green colored coat due to biliverdin, a bile pigment that sometimes mixes with a pup's amniotic fluid, causing a baby canine to be born green. The unusual coloring eventually wears away.

PEOPLE recently caught up with Golden Treasures Kennel breeder Carole DeBruler and Shamrock's new dad, Mike Bur, to discuss how Shamrock, now 10 months old, has spent her last year.

Burr, 67, knew the moment he saw that green little pup with the "big personality" that she was the one for him, DeBrule, who's been breeding dogs for 17 years, tells PEOPLE. Burr first met Shamrock when she was 3 or 4 weeks old, and "he was knit with Shamrock right away."

Recently when Burr decided to retire from his job as a Liberty Shield Security manager, he knew then was the "perfect time" to adopt a puppy. 

When it comes to "puppy picking," DeBruler says she waits at least six weeks to allow for the puppy's personalities to form before a potential owner picks one they want to take home, but with Burr and Shamrock, the connection was instant. 

"He was like, 'That's the one, that's the one I'm going to get,'" DeBruler tells PEOPLE. 

"Well, first of all, she was different, obviously," Burr says, reminiscing on his and Shamrock's first meeting. "But when I picked her up and held her, and she kind of looked at me and licked me in the face, and I don't know, I even told my wife, I said, I don't know, there was something about the look that said, 'Yep, this is the one.'"

When the day came to choose, DeBruler says, "I was like, 'Now, are you sure?' and he goes, 'Yes, that's Shamrock.'"

"That's the way it's meant to be," DeBruler says of the lucky pick.

The pair have been inseparable ever since. 

"And like I say, from day one, when I brought her little green butt home, I for the first weeks, couple months, I slept in the living room on a couch every night so I could, you know, keep an eye and an ear out on her," Burr says.

Getting a puppy is a lot of work, Burr admits, but since he's retired, "that's why I chose this time to do it." 

Burr also described his life as more "furry" since becoming Shamrock's father.

"She sheds a lot, which I knew going in, but it's been very good," Burr says, gushing over Shamrock. "I just call her an absolute sweetie, is what I call her."

DeBruler keeps in touch with Burr and checks in on Shamrock. She's learned that Shamrock has become quite the "social butterfly" around town.

"She likes to go to the store with him, and she's always ready to jump in the car and go to his friend's house or go to Home Depot or go out to eat," DeBruler tells PEOPLE. "She's a favorite at the vet and the groomer, and wherever she goes, she's making friends and sharing smiles."

"She really has made his retirement, which was a huge transition for him, has made it so much easier, just being there with him and being his buddy," DeBruler says from one of her recent conversations with Burr.

"Dogs want purpose, too," DeBruler adds. "I'm just really excited that they have really forged a bond."

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When Shamrock was born, DeBruler posted TikTok videos featuring the lucky puppy on her account, @living_the_golden_life. Shamrock's social media debut received over 12 million views.

The puppy's green hue lasted until she was 8 weeks old and completely faded by the time she reached 12 weeks old. Shamrock's mom and seven siblings didn't treat her any different because of her green fur since dogs are "pretty much color blind," DeBruler says.

DeBruler couldn't be happier that Shamrock still has the "feisty, go-get-em personality" she was born with.

"How grateful we are knowing that she is in a loving and wonderful home with a family that cares about her and treats her like part of the family, and we're so grateful for that," DeBruler says.