Once unnamed and overlooked among countless hopeful faces of homeless dogs at Paws R Us, one foster family saw something special in Diego and set him on a path to becoming the exact dog someone had been searching for.
South Africa, (17 April 2026) – Today known as Diego, this poor brown boy had a rough start and was without a name.
A mixed-breed dog with no distinguishing features, he found his way to Paws R Us: SA in 2018 with all the odds stacked against him and an appearance that didn’t make him stand out from the crowd of thousands of homeless dogs looking for miracles.
“From what we understood, he had never been given a name. He had simply been an object for the first years of his life,” the Paws R Us team said.
They were relieved to remove him from the conditions he’d been forced to live in and take him into their care.
“But we worried about his adoption prospects. Time marched by, and we tried our best to be his family and give him a shelter-home.”
The team had started to grow convinced that the animal shelter would be the only home Diego would know until Sarah and her family walked in one day and noticed the dog that so many had overlooked.
“They offered to foster him in June 2025. For a dog like Diego, it was a godsend, a lifeline, a chance to experience the comforts of home. There were a lot of things he had to get used to, but Sarah and family patiently orientated him to all the things that other dogs take for granted.”
Diego’s socialisation skills expanded, and he even got to go away on holiday with the family, experiencing sights and sounds he had never seen before!
And as if that wasn’t delightful enough, Diego’s story got even better!
A few days ago, Paws R Us were contacted by Renos, who was looking for a dog fitting DIEGO’s description.
“It was hard to believe given how rare enquiries are for mixed breed dogs! We evaluated the opportunity to make sure that it would be a good fit for Diego, and we are super grateful to confirm that Diego has now been ADOPTED.”
His foster family did exactly what they were asked to do: keep him safe, help make him more confident and more sociable, and make him as homeable as possible. And now this boy, whose life started as one that held little value, had been cherished and found a forever home.
Paws R Us extended its heartfelt gratitude to Sarah and family for their love, patience, and commitment to Diego.
“Your willingness to reach out and offer Diego a place, is hugely appreciated. Thank you for putting him on the path to his adoption.”
A truly sweet ending for a precious doggo! Thank you to Sarah and family for giving this boy some of the best days through the gift of fostering, and to Reno for opening his heart and home to him!
Sources: Paws R Us: SA
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 