How confident are you in recognizing your own dog? Most pet owners believe they can easily identify their furry friends, but it turns out that dogs of the same breed can look strikingly similar, leading to unexpected mix-ups.

This was a lesson learned by one family when they collected their golden retriever from daycare, only to later discover a significant error. The Kelley family from Burke, Virginia, have a golden retriever named Ehmi. They frequently leave Ehmi at Affectionate Pet Care, a local doggy daycare that both Ehmi and the Kelleys enjoy, as reported by FOX 5 Washington DC.

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Concerned, owners Kebby and Joe Kelley worried that something might have happened at daycare or that Ehmi was ill. But soon, they uncovered the truth: the dog they brought home wasn’t Ehmi at all! The daycare had mistakenly given them another golden retriever named Maddy. While this might seem like a significant oversight, the two dogs were so similar in appearance that even the Kelleys didn’t notice the swap right away.

“Believe it or not, it wasn’t that hard — that’s why we can’t be too upset with the daycare center,” Kebby told FOX 5. “They look so much alike! It’s really difficult.”

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Both dogs were quickly returned to their rightful owners. Despite the mix-up, the Kelleys were understanding and planned to continue using Affectionate Pet Care. To avoid future confusion, they noted Ehmi’s distinguishing feature: a birthmark on her tongue.

Additionally, the Kelleys emphasized the importance of microchipping pets with identifying information to prevent such situations. “We just never even thought that that would happen,” Kebby said. “I will tell everybody that loves their pet, chip your pet.”