By Lucy NotarantonioShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA pit bull named Nova has broken hearts online after struggling to find a home for almost a year.
In a popular TikTok posted by fosterer Eric—who goes by @ericdogdad—viewers follow the pair on the way to an adoption event. Layered text on the video explains Nova had received “[zero] applications and [zero] interest in 355 days,” even after almost a full year in Eric’s care.
When they arrive, Nova freezes and refuses to walk inside. The text states: "She had no interest in going in!"
“I couldn’t imagine me just leaving her there to be rejected again,” reads another line of on-screen text as the clip cuts to Eric comforting her on a sofa.
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The emotional video, which has earned more than 71,000 views and over 17,000 likes, ends on a happy note: Eric decides to adopt Nova himself.
In the comments, Eric states that he initially walked away, leaving Nova at the event but it wasn't long until he turned back to fetch her.
He told one user in the comments: "My heart sank when she looked at me walk way so I turn back around and was like nope. Let’s go."
Other users have said their story ended exactly how it should have.
"She was waiting for you to realize-. She chose YOU!" said one user and another wrote: "She is your soul dog. You both needed each other."
Eric explained why he initially brought her to the event, rather than adopting her straight away. He said: "I was afraid because she was a little bit aggressive. And she didn’t like high energy dogs, but it was something that I could handle and I know some people would just turn our way."
Why Pit Bulls Can Be Overlooked
...Pit bull-type dogs face persistent stigma in adoption spaces and are often overlooked as they are deemed as dangerous dogs.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes that dog attacks are a serious community concern, but argues that targeting entire breeds isn’t an effective solution.
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is the umbrella term for laws that restrict or ban breeds thought to be dangerous. The ASPCA says there’s no credible evidence such laws make communities safer, and instead the charity states that they tend to punish responsible owners and well-socialized dogs.
What Other Breeds Are Usually Targeted?
The ASPCA and other animal-welfare groups say the dogs most commonly swept into BSL fall under the broad “pit bull” label, including:
- American Pit Bull Terriers
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Staffordshire Bull Terriers
- English Bull Terriers
Some ordinances go further, adding breeds like American Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and mixes—or even dogs that simply resemble these types
The ASPCA says safer communities come from breed-neutral solutions: enforcing licensing laws, expanding low-cost spay/neuter access, and using dangerous-dog policies based on individual behavior. It also backs graduated penalties and stronger accountability for guardians, plus bans on chaining and neglect, all reinforced through realistic, community-driven enforcement.
Even if dogs like Nova have to wait a little longer for their forever families, stories like hers show that pit bulls can get happy endings too. Eric, meanwhile, has been flooded with praise online as “Nova’s hero,” with many thanking him for stepping in to save her—even if it turned him into a proud foster fail.Newsweek reached out to @ericdogdad for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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