Column: Meatball’s photos served up a lucky meet with adopter
(L) Meatball on his adoption day at Pasadena Humane with his adopter, Alexandra. She holds the sign from his kennel that first drew her to the 75-pound pup: “Meatball: He’s looking for his spaghetti.” (R) Meatball, now enjoying the comforts of his new life, like car adventures with his adopter, Alexandra.
Around St. Patrick’s Day, people talk a lot about luck. Shamrocks, leprechauns and pots of gold seem to appear everywhere, along with lots and lots of green.
At Pasadena Humane, we hear a different kind of luck story all the time. Someone comes in thinking he/she knows exactly which pet he/she is going to adopt, only to meet an animal who changes the plan.
That’s what happened to one adopter recently. Alexandra was planning to adopt a cat. Instead, she went home with a large-breed dog named Meatball. The best part is that she says she’s the lucky one.
When Alexandra began her search for a new pet earlier this year, she fully expected to bring home a cat. She had always considered herself more of a dog person, but the smaller size and lower maintenance needs of a cat appealed to both her and her parents.
Alexandra and her friend were on their way to visit an adoptable cat at another organization when they decided to take a slight detour — or “side quest,” as she calls it — to Pasadena Humane.
The day before, Alexandra had seen our TikTok video of a happy-go-lucky, black-and-white dog named Meatball. She showed her parents and could sense they were opening up to the possibility of getting a dog.
As Alexandra walked through our shelter, she was drawn to the dogs with cute signs outside their kennels. When she saw an illustrated plate of spaghetti with the cutout of a smiling black-and-white dog face, she knew she was standing in front of the dog she had seen on TikTok.
She decided to speak with an adoption counselor. Before she knew it, she was in a meet-and-greet room with the 75-pound pup she had fallen in love with on social media.
At first, Alexandra could not believe his size. “He is so huge,” she thought. But he was also incredibly sweet and friendly. “I just wanted to cuddle with him so badly.”
As the reality of adopting a big dog set in, so did the doubt. Alexandra was unsure if she could really handle a bigger dog.
As her mind cycled through all the possibilities of what it would mean to bring home a new pet, especially one as big as Meatball, she got stuck on a practical problem.
“How will I carry him to my car?” she asked aloud.
It was then that the adoption counselor reminded her that Meatball could walk himself out of the shelter. It gave everyone in the room a good laugh.
That moment of levity led to what we hope is a lifetime of happiness. Alexandra and her family decided to adopt Meatball.
Since he’s been home, Alexandra has been surprised at how well-trained Meatball is. He knows sit and shake. He has already bonded with the entire family, including Alexandra’s grandparents, who treat Meatball like their new grandson.
Alexandra and her family thought a cat might be the perfect pet for them, but it turns out a big, cuddly dog named Meatball won the day.
“My parents and I always say how lucky we were to have found Meatball because he’s just so perfectly adorable,” shares Alexandra. “It was truly luck because I never expected to find a dog like him.”
You also can have your chance at luck this weekend with our Pot of Gold adoption promotion. Now through Sunday, March 22, adopters can draw a lucky discounted adoption fee from our Pot of Gold. Adoptions include spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccines and a microchip.
To view adoptable pets and learn more about our adoption process, go to pasadenahumane.org/adopt.
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on March 20, 2026.
