Influencer Sells Puppy on Craigslist After Using Him as Insta Prop, Dog Found Dumped At Construction Site - Rocky Kanaka (2024)

In early March of 2024, Makayla—an animal advocate who fosters dogs in Texas—discovered a severely malnourished Pitbull wandering a construction site where he had been dumped. Almost every bone in his body was visible, and this sweet Pittie had clearly been alone for months—nevertheless, he came running to Makayla with a wagging tail and lots of wiggly energy.

Makayla named him Niko, got a meal in him, and then brought him to the vet to be evaluated and scanned for a microchip. Niko’s story was about to become crystal clear, but it wouldn’t be a happy tale.

Niko had a microchip, and it was registered to his former owner: a social media personality from Texas who had recently been accused of scamming followers who bought her online fitness program. Infamous and regularly in the news—as she prepared to fight a lawsuit filed against her by the Texas Attorney General—it didn’t take Makayla long to discover exactly what this influencer had done to Niko.

@makaylaandlilah Niko’s story and full timeline. Brittany Dawn Nelson owned and cared for Niko for less than 10 months in total. Once Niko wasn’t a cute puppy, she could not have cared less about him or where he ended up. Niko has suffered for years because of Brittany’s decisions. Please share this far and wide. #justiceforniko #brittanydawn ♬ To build a home – 𝙇𝙭𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙯 🫶🏻

When Puppies Grow Up & Become Unwanted

Apparently, the disgraced social media influencer had adopted Niko as a puppy in early 2018 and kept him for only 10 months before sending him to a train and board facility. Based on the Instagram profile made for Niko and this influencer regularly posting photos of the pup, it would appear to everyone that she loved her dog. Niko was supposed to be at the train and board facility for one month, then he would come home and continue life with his famous mama.

One month turned into seven, and Niko’s influencer mom still hadn’t come to get him. When Niko finally came home, his mom decided she didn’t want him anymore. He wasn’t the tiny puppy she had adopted, so she contacted a local rescue to responsibly rehome him.

Niko’s Life Takes a Turn For the Worst

The rescue wasn’t working fast enough for this influencer’s taste, and she didn’t want to pay them to care for her dog while they tried to find him a home. Less than a week after contacting them to rehome her dog, she decided to sell him on Craigslist, instead.

The last traceable thread in Niko’s story ends with the couple who bought him off Craigslist. Allegedly, they wanted to return him to his influencer mom just 2 -hours later, and no one knows exactly how Niko ended up dumped at a construction site almost four years later.

In case you were wondering, Makayla reached out to Niko’s former owner, and she absolutely denied any wrongdoing and had no interest in taking Niko back.

Gaining Weight & Learning To Trust Again—Niko Gets a Foster Home

When Niko was found, he weighed just 62 pounds. Now, a few months and many meals later, Niko is a much healthier 86 pounds—he’s a big boy!

Makayla found an amazing foster home for Niko, and thanks to her followers, sent him with everything he would need, including funds for medical care. According to his foster, Niko is fully crate trained but can be left out in the house, knows all of his basic commands plus a few extra, and adores car rides. He loves everyone he meets and is friendly with other dogs. Niko might be a big boy, but this gentle giant is even good during bath times and nail trims.

Niko is available for adoption through Cody’s Friends Rescue in Dallas, Texas! Rescues and shelters around the country always have Pitbulls available for adoption—consider giving your local shelter a visit if Niko’s story inspired you!