This week’s Feel-Good Friday subject just delighted my heart. This Gen Alpha youngin’ is a throwback, and what the elders used to call “an old soul.” What nine-year-old thinks to honor a special moment, not with a selfie, but by dressing up? Cairo Hall of Kyle, TX, that’s who.
Hall had wanted to adopt a dog since he was three years old. Now at nine, his mom felt the time was right for him to get his wish. So, they visited PAWS Shelter of Central Texas to do a reconnaissance visit:
This boy dressed up in a fancy suit to adopt his first dog, saying it was ‘a special occasion.’ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8uU087aSWy
— Puppies 🐶 (@PuppiesIover) July 8, 2025
“It was a special moment,” he said.
Then he met Waylon, a young pit bull mix who had spent 95 days at the shelter — after being pulled from an overcrowded shelter where he might have been at risk of euthanasia.
The sweet 1-year-old pit bull mix was so popular with the staff that he often spent time behind the front desk as an “office dog.” For Hall, it was “love at first sight.”
“The first time I saw him, I just wanted him so badly,” he said. “I just knew he was the one.”
Hall could give some lessons to adults on this: He treated it like a job interview or a serious date. He researched what was involved in adopting a pet and dressed up in order to make a good impression.
Back in the 1970s, when I was his age, my mother required us to wear proper dresses and shoes before we went to Downtown Chicago to go shopping. Now, most people’s (let alone young people’s) idea of dressing up is putting on hard shoes as opposed to flip flops, and eschewing a hoodie for a long-sleeved t-shirt. So, the fact that this young man wanted to honor the weight of the moment by the manner of his dress was a game changer.
Hall totally bowled over the staff by asking thoughtful questions that involved what he might face as a dog owner, and how he could embrace the huge responsibility of pet adoption. Too many adults lack this critical thinking and deductive reasoning, particularly in this area of taking a fur creature into your home and into your heart. So, to see it in one so young is quite amazing.
They went outside to an off-leash area to get to know one another. Hall asked Waylon to “sit” and rewarded him with treats. Then he asked the staff many questions about Waylon — from what food he eats and whether he has any fears to tips about heartworm prevention, positive training and registering a microchip — because he’d been researching dogs on YouTube before visiting the shelter.
Katheryn White, an adoption counselor at PAWS Shelter of Central Texas, said the shelter staff was deeply impressed that Hall asked so many thoughtful questions during the adoption process.
“I’ve been with this organization for 10 years, and we’ll have kids ask, ‘What’s their name? Do they know tricks?’ I don’t think we’ve ever had a kid come in with an agenda, so to speak,” she said. “He was ready to get down to business. This was serious for him. He’s just mature beyond his years. He asked questions that adults have not.”
The kid definitely has panache, not to mention he did his homework. And when you’re prepared, you have the confidence to follow through. Waylon, like many pit mixes and bigger dogs, had been overlooked for adoption for quite a while. But it was clear he and Cairo Hall were meant for each other, so the visit went from reconnaissance to mission accomplished.
Another Must-Read: Feel-Good Friday: As Fires Rage in LA, Precious People Ensure the Animals Are Not Forgotten
Adoption counselor Katheryn White explained:
Big dogs just sit longer, unfortunately. That can be due to many things, from weight and breed restrictions for renting apartments, or just overall, having a larger dog may seem a little intimidating. Waylon is the biggest gentle giant. I think what’s so special is Cairo really took the time to prep and he took a chance on this dog. And now they’re inseparable.
It’s been a month since Waylon and Cairo Hall became family, and Hall’s mom says her son could not be happier.
It is no surprise that Hall has huge aspirations for his future. Like many nine-year-olds, those aspirations change shape and focus. Hall has expressed he wants to be an actor or a famous hockey player. But he also would like to be a chess master, or maybe an engineer. What is clear is that Hall not only dreams and plans big, but he also does the necessary work and takes action to achieve his plans.
I cannot wait to see what such an insightful, forward-thinking, and accomplished young man becomes, especially with his new friend Waylon by his side. It will be well worth the watch!
You can follow the adventures of Cairo Hall and Waylon on Instagram at @waylonandcai.
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