Every month, we scour the internet for the most heartwarming transformations — adopted pets who went from abandoned to adored. These furry faces remind us that, with love, even the saddest beginnings can lead to joyful new chapters.
From shy shelter pups turned ride buddies to once-stray cats now ruling the couch, they’re no longer just surviving; they’re thriving, and the happiness is contagious.
So get ready to smile, maybe tear up a little, and continue scrolling to meet the gang!
#1 Meet Steven
Image credits: LewkyLuke
#2 Adopted A 15 Year Old
Image credits: Bertey
Sadly, these pictures, as cute as they are, aren’t telling the whole story. Many shelters are having a bad time, and New York City‘s largest has just hit a sad milestone.
Rocky, an 11-year-old senior dog surrendered by his owner, became the 1,000th animal at the Animal Care Centers of New York City, which announced on July 18 that its three shelters stopped accepting dogs, cats, bunnies, and other critters, except in dire emergencies.
“We’re in the business to care for animals that come to us, and we want to help people with their pets, but when we have 1,000 animals to care for and a capacity to house them that doesn’t meet that need, we’re in a bit of a difficult situation,” ACC President and CEO Risa Weinstock told the press.
#3 Adopted My First Senior Cat! 13 Yrs Old
Image credits: nievesolarbol
#4 Adopted Our Thumb Cat On Saturday!
Image credits: PeachCello
#5 Just Adopted The Dog 8 Days Ago And The Cats Have Already Taken Over His Stuff
Image credits: OpheliaBalls86
Weinstock said after they made the announcement to suspend intakes, 200 animals were still accepted into their shelters that were either a public safety risk or sent by city agencies.
The situation is so desperate that New York City stepped in Friday with $1 million to help ACC, “but we are asking the public to work with us to slow down what is coming in,” Weinstock added.
#6 Just Adopted A New Shoulder Cat
Image credits: WhiteWolfOW
#7 Adopted This Beautiful Girl Today!
Image credits: ingenious7
#8 My Newly Adopted Guy, “Crybaby”
Image credits: harveyheck
#9 Blep! The Cat I Adopted Today
Image credits: Starboard_Pete
And it’s not just NYC struggling. As the cost of living rises, animal shelters across the country are at critical capacity dealing with an influx of surrendered pets, often due to the price tag associated with their care.
An estimated 5.8 million animals filled up facilities last year, according to the nonprofit Shelter Animals Count’s national database. While there was a 1% decrease in shelter intakes from 2023 to 2024, there are other factors at play. For example, in 2019, 55% of shelter dogs had “live outcomes,” meaning they were adopted or returned to their owner. That number dropped to 50% in 2024, with about 334,000 canines being euthanized.
#10 Adopted An Orange Furball Today
Image credits: Procedure-Academic
#11 Karl Urban Recently Adopted A Dog Named Max From The Akl Council Adoptable Animals In New Zealand: “Thanks To The Wonderful Team. We Are So Delighted To Have This Special Lil Fella Join Our Whanau.”
Image credits: cmaia1503
#12 Just Adopted These Two!
Image credits: ribspls
#13 My GF And I Recently Adopted Our First Cat Together 🐈
Image credits: SpecialSummer5040
The price of pet care has been exploding. A Bank of America Institute report found that since 2019, prices of services like veterinary care and grooming have gone up 42%, with the cost of goods like food and treats surging 22%.
That has led pet owners to pull back on pet-related transactions: card spending at pet stores dropped by 4% from April 2024 to this April, and spending at vets declined 1% during the same period.
#14 Adopted A Owner Surrendered 14yr Old Chi Today
Image credits: Dangerous_Basil5899
#15 Breaking News: Husky Girl Steals Hearts
Image credits: Maximum-Sun-8455
#16 My Friend Adopts Mistreated And Sick Dogs
Image credits: In_Greed
#17 Our Newly Adopted Cat Is Out Here Acting Like The Rent Is In His Name
Image credits: Fast_Organization113
“The main reason for pet surrender is, ‘I can’t afford it.’ Vet care is expensive, food is expensive, I mean, just human cost of living is expensive,” Weinstock said.
Shelters are working to provide new resources to persuade pet owners to reconsider or delay surrendering their pets. The ACC in New York provides free food, vaccine clinics and veterinarian vouchers—”anything “we can do to help you keep your pet,” Weinstock explained.
#18 Look What I Got For $1.25! My First Orange
Image credits: natanyad
#19 Need A Name For My Adopted Cat. Despise The Name On His Papers
Image credits: konoe44
#20 New Son
Image credits: BowlerPretty7526
#21 Meet Flip Flop, He’s Been Waiting For His Forever Family For Over A Year!
Image credits: Awkward-Nebula5120
“Even if it’s just one animal, one person’s dog, who we said, ‘If we give you food for a month and you can pay your electricity, would that help you take your dog or your cat or your rabbit home?’ and they say yes, and they walk off with their kids and they’re crying because we were able to keep that pet with them, that’s a good day,” Weinstock said.
#22 Just Adopted This Little Dude. Name Suggestions?
Image credits: peanutbuttermuffs
#23 Adopted My First Cats, Say Hi To Clove And Maple
Image credits: amy5539
#24 I Adopted A Shelter Dog
Image credits: Unsuitablehooligan
#25 Adopt An Orange Cat They Said
Image credits: ItsMasooon
“We can have a dog stay here, a cat, a guinea pig, a rabbit, could be three days, and it could be over a year,” Weinstock said. Euthanasia remains the “last, last, last choice.”
There’s no easy solution to reduce the overpopulation of returned animals. Weinstock said it requires the community to step up and foster pets — but also government resources to address the root causes of pets being surrendered.
“People who bring their animals are out of options,” Weinstock said. “They’re not out of compassion.”
Luckily for these animals — and others featured last month — people who can are still helping.
#26 I Won The Dream Dog Lottery
Image credits: Benevolently_Feral
#27 Is My Cat Tuxedo? – Adopted Today
Image credits: Agreeable_Umpire3171
#28 Adopted Just Over 2 Weeks Ago
Image credits: BarePotato
#29 We Adopted A Dog Who Turned Out To Be Pregnant. What Do You Think The Pups Could Be?
Image credits: Greenkiwi94
#30 This Is My New Pack Of Kitties 😸
Image credits: violet_lorelei
#31 I Converted My Mom (She Adopted A Greyhound, Too)
Image credits: LateWinner4772
#32 Shih Tzu Adopted!
Image credits: OffTheWall503
#33 Newly Adopted Mother And Daughter Pair
Image credits: anchee_d
#34 Just Adopted This Sweet Girl
Image credits: Dangerous_Basil5899
#35 Adopted My First Dog Ever, And She’s Perfect
Image credits: shesallglowedup
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