12 Adopted Pets Who Brought Joy To Their New Owners And The Entire Internet This Month

Nothing brightens up my day more than seeing my adorable cat curl up in my lap for a nap or run to the door to greet me when I get home from work. He might be a bit demanding when he’s hungry, and his teeth can be a little too sharp at times. But I wouldn’t trade that little guy for the world. 

Adopting an animal into your family can simultaneously change your life and theirs. We all need love and companionship, even furry little creatures, and knowing that you saved a precious animal from a life in a cage is a great feeling. Below, you’ll find photos of some of the sweetest animals who have recently been adopted. These cuties have finally found their fur-ever homes, and they couldn’t be happier. Keep reading to find a conversation with Ivanka Patterson of Every Dog Matters EU, and be sure to upvote the pics that inspire you to adopt not shop!

12 PHOTOS

#1 I Adopted My Grandmother’s Cat When She Passed Away And We Are Both Adjusting To Life Without Her Together

To learn more about what it’s like to adopt a loving animal into your family, we reached out to Ivanka Patterson, director of Every Dog Matters EU. Ivanka was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain why it’s so important to adopt rather than shop for our pets. 

“A lot of dogs from breeders come from illegal puppy mills where the dogs and puppies are living in very poor conditions,” Ivanka shared. “Not knowing the origins of your bought pups hides the huge risk of getting an overbred pup which will have genetic health issues and a shorter life span.” 

#2 Leonard The Cat With The Benign Tumors Nobody Wanted Was Adopted

#3 My Husband And I Adopted This 10-Year-Old Baby, Who Was Previously Returned To The Shelter For "Hiding Too Much". Now I Can No Longer Use The Bathroom Unsupervised

“Shopping instead of adopting keeps this ugly business alive,” Ivanka continued. “The pros of adopting a dog are – you know the story and the health state of the dog you are adopting; you are giving a chance to an animal that, more often than not has not been treated well in life, to discover what real love and home mean; mixed breeds are much healthier.”

And when it comes to the benefits we can receive from adopting dogs, Ivanka says, “We believe there is a hidden superhero in each one of us. By adopting a rescue animal, this superhero comes to life, and the feeling of worthiness within oneself greatly improves one's self-esteem.”

#4 The CDs Wasn’t Working For Me, So I Went To The Shelter And Adopted The Oldest Cat There. Meet Cucumber

#5 Adopted This Little Dude Today, His Name Is Cyborg

#6 Missy’s Adoption Smile

“It has been scientifically proven that adopting a pet from a shelter makes people more compassionate and responsible,” Ivanka added. “It has physical benefits as well, like spending time with one's adopted animal normalizes blood pressure, reduces cortisol, and helps overcome mental disorders like depression. And last but not least, all of the above makes us better people.”

#7 New Adopted Puppy Is A Bit Scared. Our Big Boy Has His Back, Turning Into A Helicopter Dad

#8 My Beautiful Street Kitties

#9 Please Don’t Overlook The Older Cats When Adopting

He found his home with me 2 hours ago. He’s an older cat whose owners fell ill & could no longer care for him. When the volunteer told me he’s been there a long time & that they don’t get many calls about him, I knew I had to give him his forever home

Unfortunately, not everyone understands how lovable and amazing rescue animals can be. So Ivanka wanted to set some of the common misconceptions about rescue dogs straight. First, she addressed the idea that an animal from a shelter will be aggressive and untrainable. “So not true. A dog's behavior depends greatly on the conditions we put the dog in and on the way we interact with it,” Ivanka shared. 

“Dogs need between 3 to 6 months to adjust to their new home. During this time the adopter MUST give the animal its space, be patient with it, and respect the dog's willingness for privacy,” the expert says. “Having realistic expectations and patience is the key to a happy dog-human relationship.”

#10 Titan Was Cleveland Animal Protective League's Longest Resident (315 Days). He Was Adopted Yesterday

#11 Adopted Rocco And She Said “Let’s Keep Him Forever And Ever And Ever”

#12 Adopted A Cat 2 Days Ago, This Is Her Now

Some people also assume that if they don’t get their dog as a puppy, it won’t be able to bond with them or be obedient. “Adopting a puppy is a lot of fun, but also a huge blank canvas one needs to put a lot of work into it,” Ivanka says. “Adopting an adult or senior dog has a lot of benefits like the dog won't go through the whole chewing on everything phase. It will [also] know super quickly that pottying is done only outside unless stressed or ill; no adult dog likes to do their business where they live.”