To find more about the wonders adoption can do for dogs and their owners, Bored Panda reached out to Hannah Baker, a head of communications at FOUR PAWS in the UK. This charity organization was founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, and now has spread worldwide, advocating for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding.

“Adopting a pet is so rewarding for all involved,” Hannah said and added: “Not only are you rescuing an animal and offering them a second chance but you’re also freeing up the space to help another animal in need in the rehoming center. Plus, you get a new four-legged friend to build a life-long bond with.”

Moreover, most rehoming centers offer lifetime support for you and your new pet, Hannah added, “so if you have a question about helping them settle in or a new behavior that develops, they are on hand to help, whether it happens two weeks or two years after the adoption.”

For example, “At FOUR PAWS we’ve been able to really see the life-changing difference rescuing and adopting a dog or cat can be as we have saved victims of the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia and offered them a chance at a life free from the fear of the cruel trade.”

When asked if being loved and cared for can alter a pet's behavior and personality, Hannah assured us it's absolutely true and said that we all love to be loved and this is no different for our pets. “Dogs and cats are social animals and whilst some may be a bit more aloof, they generally like company and we humans are great at making a fuss of them. Some of those dogs and cats rescued from the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia were initially timid and scared but with the patience and love from our teams, they have thrived.”

After the adoption, “we hear reports from their new families that this change is continuing and many are embracing their inner puppy and loving their new found families and security.” Hannah told us.

It’s no secret that there’s been an unprecedented surge in people interested in pet adoption fueled by the worldwide pandemic. Hannah said that FOUR PAWS saw a surge in adverts for dogs and cats that appeared online, driven by the growing demand of people wanting to add a four-legged friend to their home during lockdown as early as last April.

But sadly, such demand may backfire for many animals, fueling the puppy trade and illegal breeding. “Unfortunately, many of these dogs and subsequent new families will have become the unsuspecting victims of the illegal puppy trade, in which dogs are bred in Eastern European countries and the puppies are taken away from the mums (often too early) and transported on long journeys to the UK.”

Hannah continued: “From here they are sold on to new families who often have no idea what those first few weeks looked like, but many sadly see the repercussions via costly vet bills or emotional distress caused by a sick puppy,” she explained and added that if you are suspicious you’ve been the victim of the illegal puppy trade, you can report it here.

On the other hand, “not all cases have been negative; for many rescue centers, they have seen dogs and cats that had previously been overlooked find the loving homes they longed for. However you acquire a new pet, FOUR PAWS urges long considerations about whether now is the right time, if that is the right animal for you, and to remember that it is a lifelong commitment.”