South Bay Family Adopts Dog In Shelter After 667 Days

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Melvin — now named Loki — has officially left the building.

After almost two years of waiting for a forever home, the dog is now with its new family, living with the Maguires in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The family was looking for the "perfect pit" and now the pup will live with two other dog siblings.

Loki is now one of 1,298 animals adopted by spcaLA since the beginning of the pandemic.

“A dog with a long length-of-stay like Melvin's receives hours of training and daily enrichment in order to remain mentally and physically resilient and stable in the shelter environment," said Sara Taylor CABI CPDT-KA, spcaLA Director of Animal Behavior & Training. "There is also a significant emotional investment because we become their interim family, waiting for someone to give them a chance to become a companion."

Keeping a dog like Loki healthy during a long-term stay requires support from spcaLA programs.

Melvin completed hundreds of hours of animal behavior training, spent the last four months in foster care, and received medical care from spcaLA veterinary staff and outside providers, according to the organization.

Just last month, Melvin required a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery for a cranial cruciate tear. The $2,500 procedure was made possible by donations from spcaLA supporters and performed by one of spcaLA’s veterinary hospital partners.

The challenge for finding a home like Loki could have been two things the dog couldn't change: the color of his coat and breed.

"spcaLA tried social media, networking, and media partners to broadcast Melvin to the public, but ultimately, it was an spcaLA adoption counselor who matched Melvin with a family in search of the perfect Pit," the organization said. "Many phone conversations and a cautiously optimistic meet-and-greet made it clear that Melvin had a home at last. Melvin’s new family has years of large breed experience, and room in their hearts for another dog after the death of one of theirs. Melvin now has two Pit Bull siblings to call family."

While Melvin spent the last 667 days in the care of spcaLA, he began his journey as a lost dog with Long Beach Animal Care Services.

“While I thank the family for adopting, and the staff for working so hard for Melvin, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our supporters, whose help makes everything we do possible,” said Madeline Bernstein, spcaLA President.

spcaLA is a non-profit group that relies on donations for its programs and services, including animal cruelty investigations. To donate, visit spcaLA.com/donate or call 323-730-5300 x3233.

Learn more about how to adopt a pet on the organization's website: spcaLA.com/adopt.