06/04/2026
Today is one of those days that is almost impossible to put into words.
After three years, Stella Luna has finally gone home.
Three years.
Three years of waiting. Three years of watching dogs come and go. Three years of being a constant presence at Kiya Koda.
Some dogs pass through a shelter. Stella Luna became part of it.
She knew the routine. She knew the walking paths. She knew where her favorite toys were. After years of walks, she even knew her way back to the shelter.
This place was home for a very long time.
Stella Luna wasn’t a dog who gave her heart away freely. She had her people. The staff members and volunteers who spent time earning her trust. The ones who walked her, played with her, sat with her, and learned all of her little quirks. The ones who celebrated every small victory and never stopped believing that her day would come.
And because of that, today was emotional.
There were tears.
There were hugs.
There were smiles through tears.
Because saying goodbye to a dog you’ve loved for three years is never easy, even when it’s exactly what you’ve been hoping for.
We want to thank all of the staff and volunteers who loved Stella Luna throughout her journey. Every walk, every toy tossed, every bit of patience, every word of encouragement, and every moment spent with her helped make her who she is today. You were her people when she needed people most.
For three years, Stella Luna has been woven into the story of Kiya Koda. She has been there through staff changes, volunteer shifts, busy days, quiet days, and everything in between. She became part of our history.
But she was never meant to stay here forever.
She was always meant to find her person.
And today she did.
A very special thank you to Meghan, Stella Luna’s adopter. Thank you for seeing her. Thank you for believing in her. Thank you for opening your heart and your home to a dog who has waited so very long for this chance.
Tonight, Stella Luna won’t be settling into a kennel. She won’t be waiting for someone to stop by and take her for a walk. She won’t be wondering if tomorrow will finally be her day.
Tonight, she is home.
A real home.
The kind of home we dreamed about for her for three very long years.
The shelter is going to feel different without her. There will be a Stella Luna-shaped space here for a while. She has been such a special part of Kiya Koda, and she always will be.
But our happiness for her is bigger than our sadness.
After three years of waiting, hoping, and believing, Stella Luna finally got the one thing she deserved all along.
A family.
A home.
A person of her very own.
We love you, Stella Luna. Thank you for letting us be part of your story.
And Meghan, thank you for giving her the ending she has waited three years to find. ❤️
