When Jill Dyché, executive director of the Los Angeles–based rescue Outta the Cage, got a phone call in the car one afternoon, she thought it might be good news.
Sitting beside her was Milo, one of the rescue’s most lovable dogs, on his way to what they both hoped would be his forever home.
But the voice on the other end had something else to say — Milo’s potential adopter had changed her mind.
The rejection hit Dyché hard.
As she processed the disappointment in silence, Milo seemed to notice her mood shift. From the passenger seat, the gentle pittie lifted his paw and placed it softly on her shoulder, as if to say, “It’s OK.”
“He must’ve seen my face or felt the shift in my energy,” Dyché told The Dodo. She shared a photo of Milo’s sweet gesture on Outta the Cage’s Facebook page.
“I think he was comforting me. That’s the kind of dog he is.”
Normally, Milo’s face lights up with a huge grin. But that day, his look was serious and calm — full of empathy. “He knew something was going on,” Dyché said.
The potential adopter had decided against bringing Milo home because her partner wasn’t on board. “We want everyone in the family to be excited about getting a new dog,” Dyché explained. Still, the call stung. She knew that finding a family for Milo wouldn’t be easy.
“Black pitties like Milo take longer to be adopted,” she said. “It’s the whole judging a book by its cover thing. He might look intimidating, but he’s really just a big, goofy meatball.”
Milo’s story began nine months ago, when he was found as a stray and placed on a euthanasia list at a high-intake shelter. Outta the Cage rescued him just in time. Since then, he’s been living with a trainer, learning commands and soaking up love while he waits for his forever home.
“He’s unbelievably social,” Dyché said. “He loves kids, gets along with other dogs — big and small — and just wants to be part of a family.”
When she recently brought him home for a visit, Dyché discovered another side of him: Milo loves baths. “He stood under the warm water and tilted his head so it could wash over his ears,” she said with a smile. Afterwards, he stretched out on her chaise lounge “like a little prince.”
For Dyché, moments like that remind her exactly what she’s working for. “It’s so nice seeing him relaxed, having his own agency, and just being a dog,” she said. “That’s what we want for him.”
And when that perfect family finally finds Milo, they’ll be getting more than just a pet — they’ll gain a loyal friend who knows how to comfort others when they need it most.
“He’s going to be your best friend,” Dyché said.
If you’d like to meet Milo or learn more about adopting him, you can find his profile on Outta the Cage’s website.
