As someone who grew up with dogs, I can definitely attest to the fact that having cute and cuddly animals in your home just makes it feel more like, well, home! There’s always a wagging tail to greet you when you get home (or in the case of my cat, a demanding meow telling me off for leaving him alone), and there’s always someone to snuggle up with at bedtime.

And if you’re in need of an animal for your home, I strongly urge you to look in shelters and rescues rather than checking out breeders. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, about 6.3 million domesticated animals find their way into shelters in the United States every single year. These little creatures would love to be adopted into loving homes, and taking them in can literally save their lives.   

To find out more about why it’s so important to adopt rather than shop when getting a new pet, for a previous Bored Panda article, we reached out to Chair of Almost Home Dog Rescue, Alex. Alex was kind enough to have a chat with us and shared that there’s been a crisis in animal rescues in the UK since the pandemic.  

“Breeders are breeding faster than we can rehome. Thousands of healthy, non challenging dogs are euthanized weekly in the UK, simply because there is nowhere for them to go,” Alex noted. 

One reason why some people might be hesitant to adopt is the fact that many of these animals have experienced trauma, and they might not seem incredibly friendly right off the bat. But Alex assures readers that she has witnessed animals undergo incredible transformations after being adopted into loving homes. “There have been many stories of where a timid, challenging or abused dog has completely transformed in the right supportive environment,” she previously told Bored Panda.

As far as what prospective owners should understand before deciding to adopt, Alex says, “[Almost Home] supports by giving any potential adopters a pre-adoption checklist - asking them to cover all the points as a family. Everyone in the home needs to be committed to the dog for the rest of its life!”

“[Almost Home] offers support to the family for the rest of [their dog’s] life too,” Alex says. “Finances are a big one, and what changes people expect in their lives over the next 10 years - all that should be considered.”

“We ensure all our dogs are neutered before they are adopted,” she added. “We strongly recommend this for behavioral reasons as well as medical.

And while some people may believe misconceptions about rescue or shelter dogs, Alex wants readers to understand that anything they’ve been through was not the animal’s fault. “A rescued dog has simply been let down by humans!” she shared.

Having a pet might seem like a huge burden before actually getting one, and I completely understand the hesitation. Before my partner and I decided to go through with adoption, the only things racing around my mind were the downsides. “It will be so expensive,” I thought. And, “That’s way too much responsibility!” And while those are important factors to consider, what I didn’t realize was how deeply in love I would immediately fall with our pets. 

The bond between a pet and their owner is so special, and if you’re in a place where you can financially and practically take care of a little creature, I would highly recommend it. Plus, look at how precious the photos on this list are! There will never be a shortage of pets in shelters, so if you’re at a point in your life where you’re ready to expand your family, please remember to adopt not shop!

Has this list made you realize that you might need to adopt a new cuddly member into your family, pandas? Whether you’re a cat, dog or reptile person, having a little creature roaming around is always worth it. Enjoy scrolling through the rest of these cute pics, and if you’re interested in checking out another adoption photo of the month list, you can find Bored Panda’s last one right here!