aespa member Winter directly addressed viral speculation that her newly adopted dog came from a pet shop, setting the record straight.
On the 23rd, Winter went live on a fan communication platform to explain how the puppy recently became part of her family. When fans asked, “Where did you get your dog?”, Winter answered, “A shelter.” She added, “I heard she was originally at an auction house, and because no one took her, she was at risk of being sent to a breeding facility. The shelter rescued her, and I adopted her,” expressing, “It feels like we were meant to meet.”
Earlier on the 18th, Winter shared several photos of a young puppy on her Instagram, revealing the adoption news. The pup’s innocent expression and adorable look drew major attention from fans. Winter also asked followers beginner pet-parent questions like, “If a puppy sleeps with their eyes rolled back, should I gently close them?” and “How do you train a puppy that’s nipping?”
However, after the photos were posted, some online communities and social media users began speculating about the adoption route. Because the puppy appeared to be a purebred, unverified claims surfaced that she might have been obtained through a pet shop or an auction.
With public scrutiny intensifying over illegal breeding operations and pet auctions, the adoption paths of celebrity pets have become a sensitive issue. In response, Winter used her live stream to clearly explain that she adopted through a shelter and to share the rescue background, drawing a firm line under the rumors.
Meanwhile, aespa, the group Winter belongs to, released their second full-length album ‘Lemonade’ last month and are actively promoting.