Jill Dyché, executive director of LA-based rescue Outta the Cage, was in the car with one of the organization’s rescue pups, Milo, when she received a phone call with disheartening news. It was Milo’s prospective adopter, and they told Dyché they no longer wanted him. Dyché was disappointed. But Milo was quick to offer her support. He gently placed his paw on her shoulder as she was driving.
“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,” Dyché said. “That’s the kind of dog he is.”
Usually, Milo smiles from ear to ear. But, in that moment, his expression was serious: “He knew something was going on,” Dyché said of the empathetic pup.
Milo’s potential adopter decided to back out because her partner wasn’t on board. “We want everybody in the family to be excited about getting a new dog,” Dyché said. While adopters sometimes change their minds, this rejection felt particularly heartbreaking for Dyché. She knows that it’ll be a challenge for Milo to find a forever home. Black pitties like Milo, in Dyché’s experience, take longer to be adopted.
“It’s the whole judging a book by its cover thing,” Dyché said. “He might strike people as a scary pitbull. But he’s a big meatball.”
Milo was rescued nine months ago. Originally found as a stray, the 3-year-old pup was placed on a euthanasia list at a high-kill shelter. He’s currently being fostered by one of the trainers at Outta the Cage until he finds a permanent home.
Described by Dyché as “unbelievably social,” Milo gets along well with both large and small dogs. He adores children. “He’s just a very affable, happy dude,” Dyché said. He frequently wags his tail and will even tap his feet like he’s dancing when he’s excited.
The playful pup enjoys short neighborhood walks. Recently, Dyché took him to her place and found out he likes baths, too. He stood under the warm water, placing his head down so the water would wash over his ears. “You could tell he loved it,” she said. Afterwards, he sprawled on her chaise lounge like a prince. “It was so nice seeing him relaxed and having his own agency and just being a dog,” Dyché said. “That’s what we want for him.”
