Waldomar, a four-year-old black Labrador from Lancaster, was one of two dogs not adopted at a Los Angeles Dodgers stadium adoption event held on December 14. The dog’s calm interaction with the team’s mascot became the most photographed moment of the day after the rest of the animals on site found new homes.

Shelter staff said Waldomar arrived at Lancaster Care Center as an injured stray and spent nearly two months in shelter care while recovering and awaiting adoption. Lancaster personnel moved him to the stadium drive hoping the event’s higher foot traffic and publicity would produce a match; the gesture to bring him to the ballpark reflected a targeted effort to give long-staying animals extra exposure.

At the event, the Dodgers mascot knelt so Waldomar could approach at his own pace. Waldomar leaned in, settled beside the mascot and absorbed the attention, creating a quiet, comforting scene amid the bustle of an adoption drive. Photographs of that interaction circulated afterward, and media coverage of the event highlighted the moment as an example of the small, humane gestures shelters use to help animals acclimate to public settings.

Organizers reported that all other animals present were adopted by the event’s conclusion, underscoring both the day’s overall success and the unusual circumstance of Waldomar remaining available. When the event ended, shelter staff arranged a transfer for Waldomar to Agoura Animal Care Center, which accepted him for renewed placement efforts and continued promotion to prospective adopters.

Both Lancaster Care Center and Agoura Animal Care Center are listed as the shelters involved in Waldomar’s case; Lancaster housed him after his arrival as a stray and Agoura took him on to provide another opportunity to be matched with adopters. Shelter officials described the mascot’s interaction as a brief but meaningful act of attention for an animal that had already waited an extended period in care.

The Dodgers-hosted drive was part of a wider pattern of adoption activity across California in 2025. Statewide efforts have produced strong numbers. That broader momentum has encouraged shelters to stage high-profile events to accelerate placements.

Event organizers and shelter volunteers pointed to several practices that help adoption drives succeed: effective marketing and publicity to draw crowds, collaboration among multiple shelters and rescue groups to increase the variety of animals and staff resources, and reduced or waived adoption fees to boost interest. Staff at Lancaster and Agoura said they used a combination of social media outreach and on-site engagement to showcase animals like Waldomar during the stadium event.

Volunteers and supporters also play a central role in these campaigns. Individuals can support local shelters by volunteering for tasks such as walking animals or staffing events, donating supplies like food and bedding, or making financial contributions and sharing shelter social-media posts to expand reach. Shelter staff credited volunteers with helping manage logistics and providing animals with extra human contact during large public drives.

Waldomar remains available at Agoura Animal Care Center, where staff continue to feature him in adoption listings and outreach. The episode — a mix of patient waiting, public attention and a small act of comfort by a mascot — underscored the unpredictable nature of adoption events and the ongoing work shelters do to find placements for long-stay animals.

Images and reporting on the mascot’s interaction with Waldomar were noted in coverage by Marca, which highlighted the kneeling gesture and the dog’s calm response during the stadium drive.

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Original reporting: view the original article.