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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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A shelter dog who spent 800 days waiting to find a forever home has finally been adopted, proving that good things certainly do come to those who wait.
Cali, a 5-year-old pit bull mix, arrived at Wags and Walks Rescue in Los Angeles, California back in October 2023. Not much was known about her past, except that she’d had a litter of 11 puppies who were also rescued.
Erica Fox, the Director of Animal Placement at Wags and Walks, told Newsweek that situations like Cali’s are usually the result of an accidental litter or “backyard breeding gone wrong.” Cali has an incredibly loving and sweet disposition, leaving staff hopeful that she’d find the perfect adopters in good time. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
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“Cali didn't really receive much adoption interest at all in her time with us, until her adopters found her,” Fox said. “Cali was often overlooked. There are many (unfortunate) reasons why people might not be interested in adopting a pit bull, and the longer a pup spends on our website, people tend to just scroll past them.
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“She also takes time to open up to new people, so she never was able to show her true personality in meet-and-greets,” Fox continued.
While her puppies were all adopted swiftly, Cali struggled to show her true self and became one of the shelter's longest residents. She just needed someone who would give her a chance.
Thankfully that moment came in December 2025 as Cali was adopted by a woman who had lost her previous pit bull a few months prior. As soon as she saw the videos of Cali on the Wags and Walks social media pages (@wagsandwalks), she felt an instant connection.
Lois, the Wags and Walks Adoptions Coordinator, told Newsweek that Cali’s adopter “instantly fell in love” and knew it was the right fit. After years of waiting for her big day, Cali was adopted last month and was delighted to be given a second chance at life.
Footage of the moment Cali left the shelter for good was shared on the rescue’s Instagram, and it’s touched so many hearts. The video shows Cali kissing the staff goodbye before excitedly walking out, and it’s gone viral with over 256,000 views and 26,400 likes at the time of writing.
The sweet pup was even surprised with her own cake which had “800 days later…you’re home” written in icing.
“It was definitely an emotional moment,” Lois said. “Cali has made a big impact on all members of staff and volunteers. She was so happy that she went around and gave everyone a kiss letting everyone know she had found her home.
“We are so incredibly happy for Cali and her mom, and we try to remind people how many Cali’s are out there. There are thousands of amazing dogs waiting for their forever homes, whether they've been in the rescue/shelter for two days or two years,” Lois continued.
Cali is said to be thriving in her new home, and her personality is already flourishing. She loves exploring the neighborhood, and of course getting endless snuggles from her owner.
The team at Wags and Walks are so glad that Cali finally got her moment to shine, but there are countless more animals waiting to be noticed. They hope that Cali’s story will encourage people to adopt, foster, donate or volunteer at a local shelter, as Fox says it “truly helps save lives.”
Plenty of Instagram users were reduced by tears by Cali’s adoption video, which has generated over 900 comments so far.
One comment reads: “The little smile on her face sitting next to her new mommy!”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Be happy in your forever home Cali. You’ve waited so long for love.”
Another person replied: “Literally brings tears to my eyes. So happy for Cali.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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