Her 11 puppies found homes quickly. Then, 800 days later, this pit bull mix got hers

Cali is a 5-year-old pit bull mix who spent more than 800 days in the care of Wags and Walks Rescue in Los Angeles before being adopted. During her long stay she endured the odd heartbreak of watching all 11 of her puppies find homes while she remained in the shelter. Staff members say the delay wasn’t for lack of love: Cali is affectionate and gentle, but she could appear nervous during meet-and-greets and people’s reluctance to adopt pit bull–type dogs meant she was often overlooked. Erica Fox, the rescue’s director of animal placement, noted that long listings and breed stigma contributed to her receiving little interest until the right adopters came along. Cali’s match came in December 2025, when a woman who had recently lost her own pit bull saw the rescue’s posts on social media and fell for Cali. Video shared by the shelter shows the emotional goodbye as Cali leaves the facility and a little celebration with a cake that read, “800 days later…you’re home.” The adoption resonated with viewers and shelter staff alike: commenters responded with heartwarming reactions, and employees called the moment very emotional, saying Cali had made a big impact on team members and volunteers. Fox reports Cali is already settling in well, enjoying walks in her neighborhood and what the staff described as "endless snuggles" with her new owner. The rescue used Cali’s story to underline a wider point: animals who seem shy or who carry breed stigma can need extra time to decompress, but they can become loving companions when given a chance. As Wags and Walks staff remind the public, there are many wonderful dogs waiting for forever homes — whether they’ve been in care for days or for years.