A shelter dog who had three failed adoptions and was starting to lose her spark has finally found her forever home -- and it was right under her nose the entire time.
Vegas, a 6-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier mix, wound up at Yolo County Animal Shelter in California after being found as a stray. It's believed that she was used as a breeding dog before being dumped when she was no longer useful.
In March 2025, Vegas was fostered by shelter volunteer Makena Wahl. She was working with several dogs at the time, but Wahl, 26, told Newsweek that Vegas "stole [her] heart the first night" she had her.
"I often found myself wondering how she could still be full of so much love despite her rough past," Wahl said. "She was so deprived of human touch. All she wanted was be held and spoken to softly."
Vegas was Wahl's fourth foster dog, and she was fortunate enough to care for Vegas for three weeks before the shelter pup was adopted.
Sadly, it didn't work out as Vegas was returned to the shelter 24 hours later, and the only reason her adopter gave was that she kept throwing up. It was later discovered that Vegas suffered an obstruction caused by ingesting a toy or bedding. After receiving medical care, Vegas was no longer allowed any bedding as a safety precaution.
Wahl was devastated to see Vegas back at the shelter, and this time she was "alone on a wet slab of concrete for a bed." Without hesitation, Wahl offered to take Vegas back into foster care until she got adopted permanently.
Vegas was adopted a second time on May 17, but before long she found herself at the shelter once more.
"Vegas was returned for incidents with other dogs, which put a harsh label on her. Her adopter didn't follow our instructions on how to properly do introductions and put Vegas in an unsafe situation. She was then labeled as dog-aggressive, which lowered her chances of finding a forever home significantly," Wahl said.
"I was absolutely crushed. Her spirits were down, and she was losing her spark. This is when I finally had to come to terms with the fact that she was running out of options."
Vegas was deemed unadoptable and taken off the shelter's website and she became Wahl's project dog. Wahl worked on basic training, routine and allowed Vegas to decompress.
Wahl's senior dog Yogi, a shepherd mix, spends a couple of nights a week at her family's home (to spend time with her parents' dog, Ace). During that time, Wahl was able to spend quality time with Vegas and showed her patience and love.
When she was put up for adoption again, Vegas was chosen by a local family. Unfortunately, it wasn't third time lucky, and they returned her to Yolo County Animal Shelter because she didn't seem happy in their home.
Wahl told Newsweek: "After her third return, seeing her again was a moment I will never forget. I was so excited to see her again and began to question if maybe she was unhappy because she knew I was her forever. It was like something just fell into place.
"I finally got approval to start introducing her and Yogi. I was full of fear because I couldn't imagine spending another day without Vegas. After a surprisingly short period of time, Yogi and Vegas became the best of friends. She is so maternal and loving and has brought a new light into him."
Once Wahl knew Vegas and 12-year-old Yogi could get along, adopting her was the easiest decision. Vegas had struggled to feel safe and comfortable, while Yogi’s health was declining in his senior years. Yet, Wahl believes they’ve “healed one another” through friendship.
Wahl documented her fostering journey on TikTok (@makenaw1218) and it’s melted hearts. A post about the three failed adoptions Vegas had to endure has generated over 86,000 views and 15,700 likes at the time of writing. Wahl also shares other rescue stories on Instagram (@allfurtheloveofyolo) to showcase the many animals still in need of saving.
Yogi and Vegas both came from Yolo County Animal Shelter, and Wahl says they’ve been “the most amazing additions” to her life.
Vegas has truly come out of her shell after being adopted, and she’s so happy, playful, and even quite sassy now. She also loves making friends with other dogs in the neighborhood, dispelling any concerns about her being aggressive.
The online response to Vegas’ story is beyond anything Wahl expected. Not only does she want to highlight the importance of rescuing, but also the vital significance of fostering and volunteering.
Since Vegas's adoption journey went viral, the TikTok post has amassed over 100 comments already.
One comment reads: "I wonder if it never worked out with the adoptions bc she knew you were her home."
Another TikTok user wrote: "She knew you were meant to be her mama."
While another person replied: "She was destined to be your baby. Thank you for saving her."