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There are a gazillion reasons to why adopting a pet is the best idea you can think of. Saving a life and giving a pet its second chance is one. Other benefits include fighting puppy mills, saving money, making yourself a better person, boosting your emotional (and physical) wellbeing, and earning the bragging rights we all secretly crave.
But nobody knows it better than people who rescued an animal and adopted one. And this means, it’s that wholesome time of the month where Bored Panda has compiled the monthly post of the most soul-soothing pics of adopted furry friends. Let’s leave the stage to the goodest boys, bestest girls, tiny critters, and measureless love that connects us all.
After you’re done, don’t forget to share your pet adoption stories in the comment section below and check out our previous posts from October, September, August, July, and June. Trust me, they will tuck you in like a much-needed warm blanket for these cold days.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I Rarely Adopt (I Always Rescue Then Adopt Lol) But This Little Cutie That Was Born With A Facial Birth Defect Stole My Heart The Second I Saw Her Adoption Post. Please Say Hi To My New Adopted Kitten, Nala!
In a previous interview with Bored Panda, Kelly DiCicco, who’s the adoptions promotions manager at the ASPCA, told us that despite the recent surge in pet adoptions due to the Covid pandemic and quarantine, animal shelters are under immense strain right now.“
Since it began, COVID-19 has put an immense amount of strain on animal shelters across the country. Because this is an ever-changing situation, each shelter is facing unique challenges specific to its community.”
Due to social distancing requirements, many shelters had to reduce staff members, which “has meant reductions or limits to the number and types of services offered to the public.”
Moreover, most shelters have been hit financially due to reduced donations and the inability to host in-person fundraising events. It turns out that these events in particular play a key role in annual fundraising efforts.
#4
We Adopted This 11 Year Old Senior, Shayshay, Today From A Woman Who Couldn’t Keep Her Anymore. Her First Photo Matches Her Personality. We Are So Happy To Have You, Beautiful Girl
#5
Our Son’s Dream Of Becoming A K-9 Officer Got One Step Closer Today. We Adopted Him At 2.5 After His Parents Passed Away. His New Best Friend, A Little Girl Named Jovi, Was Born On His Biological Mother’s Birthday. Meant To Be!
#6
Rescued This Very Good Boy, Arnold!! He Looks So Handsome In His Sweater!!
But while the pandemic has created a lot of new challenges for shelters, many are now implementing innovative solutions to adopting procedures.
“With hundreds of thousands of animals across the country currently in shelters, with rescue groups, and in foster care, animal welfare organizations are implementing innovative solutions, including virtual or socially-distanced adoptions, online meet-and-greets using video chat, and minimal-contact drop-offs or pickups to help these animals find adoptive homes.”
Right now, many shelters are working hard to make sure that each pet in need of a loving forever family will not lose a chance to gain one due to the pandemic.
#7
We Adopted A Second Cat From A Hoarding Situation. It Turns Out He Was My Cat’s Soulmate. The Two Of Them Have Been Inseparable Since He Arrived
#8
We Adopted Nova 12 Weeks Ago Today And I Wanted To Share With You All How Much He Has Changed Since He Arrived
#10
Just Rescued This Sweet Lil Old Lady, Chloe. She’s 12 And She’s Gonna Have Her Finest Years Yet
#11
Baby Squirrel Found Alone In Apartment Loft Gets Adopted And Lives In A Cosy Hat, His Name Is Conker
#13
Been Telling Myself The Only Way To Keep Them Together Is To Just Adopt Them Myself. It’s Not My Fault. I Have No Choice
#14
This Is Axel. He Was So Scared In The Animal Shelter That He Didn't Get Adopted For 4 Months, And Then Got Returned For "Being Too Shy" When Someone Finally Took Him Home. He Loves His Life Now! Pure Bliss
#16
Stray Momma Kitty Brings Her Babies To The Nice Lady Who Had Been Feeding Her. All Kitties Were Taken In And Adopted
#20
This Angry Cat Is Named Giggles. He Was Just Adopted From A Local Shelter
#24
I Just Adopted This Gorgeous Boy Who Was Saved From A Hoarding/Breeding Situation And He Is The Most Affectionate Cat I've Ever Met! Completely Obsessed With Tofu
#26
Our Newly Adopted Dog Has Already Found Her Favourite Spot In The Morning Sun!
#29
Rescued Junkyard Dog Became Huge Fan Of Warm And Dry Towels And Blankets
#31
[rip] This Sweet Boy Went Over The Rainbow Bridge A Few Days Ago And I Miss Him So Much. 17 Years Of Pure Puppy Love
![[rip] This Sweet Boy Went Over The Rainbow Bridge A Few Days Ago And I Miss Him So Much. 17 Years Of Pure Puppy Love](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/5fbe62d64871d_zhjbortc13161__700.jpg "[rip] This Sweet Boy Went Over The Rainbow Bridge A Few Days Ago And I Miss Him So Much. 17 Years Of Pure Puppy Love")
#32
The Long Adoption Paperwork From Animal Control Was Worth It To Bring Winston Home
#33
I Volunteer For The National Foundation For Animal Rescue. This Shoulder Kitten In Training Was Recently Adopted And Now Has Many Shoulders To Ride On!
#37
I’m Back Again With A Stray That Adopted Me. Her Name Is Stoner Because She Stole My Taco Bell At 3am. Musta Had The Minchies
#38
After 25+ Years, I Was Finally Able To Adopt My First Cat. Everyone Meet, Alaska
#39
My Adopted Baby Finally Healing! Lots Of Treatment , Human Herpes Medication Being The Final Cure! I Love Him So Much
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Share your rescue pet photo 🥰
Clever Dog 3 years ago
Its time to smash this erroneous opinion that to buy a dog(or cat) means you get a better animal. There is NO reason to buy from a breeder when there are millions of dogs & cats worldwide that need a home , some are in shelters but many are with smaller charities in foster homes. When you buy from a breeder your money goes into their pockets, many breeders dont care about the dogs or cats and keep the animals in awful conditions. Even "reputable" breeders are doing it for the money. Dogs and Cats are not "things" they are not disposable like a handbag or games console they are vulnerable lives that need a loving home and a family that care for them if you are prepared to give love and care you will get the most wonderful best friend. You need to be fully prepared for the responsibility of having a pet but if you rescue you know that you will be giving a 2nd chance to an animal and they will be as much a part of your family as any human.
John Louis 3 years ago
Adopting a shelter animal is AWESOME. Dogs should be companions in a loving forever family, not status symbols or one more thing to have around the house.
J. Normal 3 years ago
We adopted our baby boy 4 yrs ago. He was dumped at the shelter 2x, 1st was they had allergies(?), 2nd was he does not like cats. The poor baby is very very skiddish and protective. He is so fricking spoiled now.
Anne 3 years ago
I so wish I could adopt another dog.. but.. our shelters are only full of pitties and staffords that had bad bad owners and I don't think I want to take the risk with the other pets I have.
Clever Dog 3 years ago
go on-line there are loads of charities that have dogs in foster families in the USA and Europe. As these dogs live in a home their temperament is known and also how they get on with other animals.
Load More Replies...
Cori 3 years ago
I have it on my bucket list to adopt a pittie. I'll have to be super careful (with any dog no matter the breed) because I have free range goats and pigs. There's a missing piece out there for every incomplete puzzle though, so I'm sure I'll find him/her when the time is right.
Blue 3 years ago
6 years ago I got my boston terrier, Elli, who was rescued from a puppy mill. She was very jumpy and on edge at first, but warmed up after about half a year. She lived to be 18 years old, and died earlier this year. She wasn't in pain and I stayed with her while she passed. I'll always love you, Elli
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Thank you all people, #AdoptDontShop is one of my (c)attitudes either, you can find the cutest cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds or what kinds of animals ever for adoption, you have to pay a fee at the shelters to help them rescue more pets, but if you buy a pet from a breeder you have to pay for the vaccinations, for spaying/neutering, for micro-chipping and more, and the shelter pets´re usually fully vetted yet, so the 100 - 200 € or $ that you have to pay for them as fee´re much cheaper than buying a pet from a breeder and paying for all the treatment and so on would be.
Lord Mysticlaw 3 years ago
I always point that out to people who don't want to adopt from a rescue organisation (I don't know why) – in SA, the fee for adopting a dog is usually around R1000, and includes sterilisation, microchipping, and all deworming and vaccinations for the first 4-6 months. If you buy a dog or get one for free from goodness knows where, you have to pay for all of those things out of pocket – sterilisation alone can be around R1500 for a female, all the other things are probably going to add up to another R1000+... Adopting a rescue has nothing but benefits for everyone involved. And rescue pets know they've been rescued ❤❤
Load More Replies... 
Clever Dog 3 years ago
Its time to smash this erroneous opinion that to buy a dog(or cat) means you get a better animal. There is NO reason to buy from a breeder when there are millions of dogs & cats worldwide that need a home , some are in shelters but many are with smaller charities in foster homes. When you buy from a breeder your money goes into their pockets, many breeders dont care about the dogs or cats and keep the animals in awful conditions. Even "reputable" breeders are doing it for the money. Dogs and Cats are not "things" they are not disposable like a handbag or games console they are vulnerable lives that need a loving home and a family that care for them if you are prepared to give love and care you will get the most wonderful best friend. You need to be fully prepared for the responsibility of having a pet but if you rescue you know that you will be giving a 2nd chance to an animal and they will be as much a part of your family as any human.
John Louis 3 years ago
Adopting a shelter animal is AWESOME. Dogs should be companions in a loving forever family, not status symbols or one more thing to have around the house.
J. Normal 3 years ago
We adopted our baby boy 4 yrs ago. He was dumped at the shelter 2x, 1st was they had allergies(?), 2nd was he does not like cats. The poor baby is very very skiddish and protective. He is so fricking spoiled now.
Anne 3 years ago
I so wish I could adopt another dog.. but.. our shelters are only full of pitties and staffords that had bad bad owners and I don't think I want to take the risk with the other pets I have.
Clever Dog 3 years ago
go on-line there are loads of charities that have dogs in foster families in the USA and Europe. As these dogs live in a home their temperament is known and also how they get on with other animals.
Load More Replies... Cori 3 years ago
I have it on my bucket list to adopt a pittie. I'll have to be super careful (with any dog no matter the breed) because I have free range goats and pigs. There's a missing piece out there for every incomplete puzzle though, so I'm sure I'll find him/her when the time is right.
Blue 3 years ago
6 years ago I got my boston terrier, Elli, who was rescued from a puppy mill. She was very jumpy and on edge at first, but warmed up after about half a year. She lived to be 18 years old, and died earlier this year. She wasn't in pain and I stayed with her while she passed. I'll always love you, Elli
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Thank you all people, #AdoptDontShop is one of my (c)attitudes either, you can find the cutest cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds or what kinds of animals ever for adoption, you have to pay a fee at the shelters to help them rescue more pets, but if you buy a pet from a breeder you have to pay for the vaccinations, for spaying/neutering, for micro-chipping and more, and the shelter pets´re usually fully vetted yet, so the 100 - 200 € or $ that you have to pay for them as fee´re much cheaper than buying a pet from a breeder and paying for all the treatment and so on would be.
Lord Mysticlaw 3 years ago
I always point that out to people who don't want to adopt from a rescue organisation (I don't know why) – in SA, the fee for adopting a dog is usually around R1000, and includes sterilisation, microchipping, and all deworming and vaccinations for the first 4-6 months. If you buy a dog or get one for free from goodness knows where, you have to pay for all of those things out of pocket – sterilisation alone can be around R1500 for a female, all the other things are probably going to add up to another R1000+... Adopting a rescue has nothing but benefits for everyone involved. And rescue pets know they've been rescued ❤❤
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Adorable Pet Adoption Pictures To Make Your Day A Little Brighter (October Edition) These Funny Animals Found Themselves In The Most Unexpected Situations While At The Shelter 40 Times Corgis Mixed With Other Breeds, And The Result Was Absolutely Pawsome
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