The bond between Negrita, now affectionately known as Rita, and her new owner, Dave, began on Christmas Eve 2024. Rita, initially a temporary foster dog at Dave’s family home, quickly chose him as her person from the five dog-loving family members.
Before joining her new family, Rita had lived with the same couple for 14 years. However, due to major changes in their lives, they found it difficult to care for her. Language barriers, as they did not speak English, made it challenging for them to find help, and they had been turned away from other shelters. In November, they reached out to Letty, a bilingual dog coordinator at Last Hope, who understood their situation and took Rita into the rescue’s care.
Rita’s transition to the Wantagh Adoption Center was difficult. She was confused and defensive, growling at volunteers and struggling to adjust to kennel life. A short foster stay with a quiet mother-daughter duo also did not work out, as Rita only bonded with one of them.
Then, just before Christmas, Rita was placed in a foster home with Dave’s family, who had three children and three large dogs. The arrangement was meant to be temporary, but Rita quickly adapted to the busy household. She tolerated being picked up by Dave’s wife, Emily, and the children, and the other dogs didn’t bother her. Rita seemed to have eyes only for Dave, eagerly waiting for him to return from work every day. She greeted him as if he had been gone for years and became his devoted lap dog, settling comfortably in her new home.
Rita’s transformation began that Christmas Eve, when the family welcomed her with Chinese food and a fortune cookie. The message inside seemed perfect for her: “Connect with others who understand your mental health struggles.”
And Rita did just that, connecting deeply with Dave. On their first Father’s Day together, she expressed her affection with a shirt that perfectly captured their bond.
