Faces of No-Kill: Big dog in the big city

All it takes is one pet to change your perspective. For Mo Hussain, that pet was Cadbury.

Mo and his family had experience with dogs — but not big dogs. So when the chance came to foster Cadbury, a 50-pound pit bull terrier-type dog, Mo admits he was hesitant. Still, the family welcomed this big boy into their New York City home.

They got to know Cadbury’s personality and were pleasantly surprised by his sweet, affectionate nature. Despite his stocky frame, he was all warm and gooey on the inside, just like his name suggests. Mo started to realize that Cadbury wasn’t any different from the other dogs he knew: All Cadbury wanted was to play with his toys, enjoy his meals, go for walks, and cuddle on the couch. Most of all, he just wanted to be loved.

Cadbury started his journey at a New York City shelter before coming to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in SoHo. From there, he went to stay with Mo’s family. Cadbury was smart, quick, and eager to learn new things. They practiced verbal cues (like “sit” and “paw”), patience during mealtimes, and walking on a leash. Before long, Cadbury was confidently strolling through the neighborhood, weaving through crowded sidewalks like a pro. Those walks often ended at the dog park, where he had no trouble making canine friends.

[Skinny dog blossoms in foster home]

“This dog is ridiculously well-behaved,” says Mo, who made it his mission to get Cadbury adopted. As a foster volunteer, Mo brought him to dog-friendly events to meet potential adopters and shared their adventures on social media, anything to bring attention to this lovable pup. Mo even made Cadbury an online dating profile to help him stand out.

It didn’t take long for an adopter to swipe right. A woman saw Cadbury’s picture online, fell in love, and came to the lifesaving center for a meet and greet. Turns out, it was a match. Big dogs often have a harder time getting adopted, so seeing Cadbury head home was a moment worth celebrating.

[Big dog lands a home, meets his mini me]

Although Mo was sad to say goodbye to Cadbury, their time together was life-changing. Since then, Mo has fostered two more pit bull terrier-type dogs and has plans to foster more. Each dog he fosters is thanks, in part, to Cadbury — proving that sometimes, one pet can change everything.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.