Seeing pets click with their new families is pure joy. Sharing their adoption stories is even more special—each one is a happy ending waiting to be told. That’s why Bored Panda got in touch with Anastasia Duravkina, a social media and content marketing specialist from Ukraine, to hear about how she adopted her cat, Dixie. In her free time, Anastasia is a photographer who features her work on Instagram and films videos about her life on TikTok, where you can also find cute glimpses of Dixie.

Anastasia has always felt a deep connection to animals and knew she would eventually adopt one. “I grew up with a cat, but he stayed with my parents when I moved out,” she recalls. “Ever since, I’ve been thinking about getting my own pet.” However, she understood the commitment it would take and wanted to be fully prepared.

One day, though, while scrolling through a local online marketplace, Anastasia came across a peculiar cat staring back at her from the screen. “It was an ad from a shelter. I was mesmerized. It was the cutest and weirdest-looking cat I had ever seen. I knew she had to be mine, but I was afraid to take the leap,” she shares.

Weeks went by, but Anastasia couldn’t get the cat out of her mind. So when a free Saturday presented itself, she set off for the shelter. “The woman working there struggled to find the cat at first because there were so many animals there,” Anastasia says. “It broke my heart knowing they might never find their forever home.”

Finally, after a frantic hour of searching, Anastasia spotted the cat hiding amongst the others. Tiny, with fur standing on end in a comical yet charismatic explosion, she looked exactly as she did in the ad. Relief washed over her as she scooped her up, knowing this was the perfect match.

“It was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Anastasia says. “Every animal deserves a loving home.”

Naming her new feline friend was a fun process. Anastasia and her boyfriend spent a while trying to come up with the right one and landed on Dixie. The name sounded pointy and fun, which matched the cat’s personality. “She’s 3 years old now. The sweetest cat I’ve ever known, but she has a certain pizzazz aura following her around. She can be quite cheeky and quirky, but it’s the combination of all her traits that makes her a perfect cat.”

On TikTok, Anastasia shares a photo of Dixie as a kitten alongside how she looks today. “She’s got big, beautiful green eyes and tortoiseshell fur,” Anastasia describes. “When you look at the photo from the shelter, it’s easy to understand why I was charmed. She looked a bit funny and cartoonish, but full of character.” The transformation from the shy shelter cat to the confident and happy feline she is now is just remarkable.

However, in February 2022, Anastasia faced one of the most challenging times of her life when Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She had to flee the country with Dixie. “I had all of her documents prepared beforehand, even though multiple countries were kind enough—and I will always be grateful for it—to let people cross the borders with their pets without the necessary documentation,” she explains. The escape was a stressful experience for both of them, but they made it out safely, and the shared ordeal only strengthened their bond.

Anastasia believes that rescuing a pet from a shelter saves multiple lives. “Shelters often euthanize animals when they are not adopted for a long time or if they are senior,” she explains. “By adopting a pet, you free up space in the shelter for another animal which otherwise could starve or die on the streets.”

Moreover, choosing to adopt your pet from a shelter rather than buying from a breeder is a more ethical and compassionate way to support animals. Although she rescued a kitten, Anastasia is open to adopting older cats in the future. “I can see myself getting an older cat given they have an even smaller chance of finding a home,” she says.

Unfortunately, shelters are currently facing a crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were looking for companionship out of loneliness and found it by adopting pets. The adoption rates at the time were record-high, and videos of empty shelters were going viral. In 2020, 2% more animals left shelters than came in, according to Shelter Animals Count. However, in 2021, this trend reversed, and now 4% more animals are entering shelters than leaving. These animals need help now more than ever.

So by sharing her experience, Anastasia hopes to inspire others to consider adoption. “Dixie has brought so much joy into my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I truly wish all animals out there receive the love and care they deserve.”