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People adopt pets out of the goodness of their hearts. They are more than willing to take on the obligation of caring for another life, and hats off to them.

And if you’ve seen some of our previous posts, you’ve likely noticed a pattern. These kindhearted humans seem to find the most adorable little creatures. For you animal lovers out there, these photos we’ve collected from Reddit may tug hard at your heartstrings.

For longtime Bored Panda readers, here’s our July edition of adopted pets. May this list give you warm fuzzies as you scroll through it.

#1 Went To Adopt A Kitten Walked Out With This 5 Year Old Gem Instead

Image credits: AltruisticSense0

#2 Love On The Mind. Rescue 1.5 Week Old Kitten. Meet Kenny!

Image credits: SCP-7593

#3 24 Hours After Being Found On The Side Of The Road In 95+ Degree Heat. Meet Booker (I Told Him To Smile For The Camera)!

Image credits: ShouldaMadeARaptor

Early this year, Forbes compiled some statistics on pet adoption trends in the United States. It revealed that of the 6.3 million animals that enter shelters annually, only 4.1 million are adopted.

One possible reason is that shelters don’t have as many purebred options, which may drive away adopters looking for specific breeds. According to the article, only 25% of shelter dogs are purebred.

#4 Found This Baby Cat On The Road. I Couldn’t Leave Her Behind. She Smells Like Flowers

Image credits: Mission_Spray

#5 I Found This Kitten Near A Convenience Store, And She Follows Me Everywhere I Go, So I’ve Decided To Bring Her Home

Image credits: MartinezHill

#6 Newest Member Of The Family. Little Kev

Image credits: Mr-Filthyy

Here’s a grim statistic: animal shelters euthanize 920,000 animals each year. That’s around 390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats. However, it is important to note that the number of euthanized animals significantly decreased from 13 years ago when more than two and a half million animals would be killed in shelters.

#7 I Love This Little Kitty Family. Honey’s Kittens Are 10 Weeks Old Now. I Think I’m Going To Keep Them All

Image credits: mac_is_crack

#8 Acquired A Kitten That Loves To Perch On Shoes

Image credits: BoutToGiveYouHell

#9 She Was Found In Firewood, And Now She’s Our Barn Cat. Sweet Little Kindle

Image credits: IDontFeel24YearsOld

Forbes’ statistics also show that people prefer adopting adult dogs, which could make training more challenging. This is why experts like Mika Ito of Animal Haven advise stocking up on treats.

As she told New York Magazine, positive reinforcement is a helpful approach they practice at their shelter. They follow the ethos of “ignore the bad, reward the good.”

#10 Rescued Some Puppies – They Made Themselves Right At Home

Image credits: Gini555

#11 I Was Afraid That They Wouldn’t Get Along When I Brought The New Puppy Home… This Is How It’s Going

Image credits: Sweetdreamsdoll

#12 She Became A Foster Fail Today

Image credits: Disastrous_Aside_831

Illnesses could be another issue among adult dogs, meaning more medical bills. As a pet owner, you’d want to avoid this, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

To prevent such problems from arising, animal behavior specialist and TV personality Eric Wiese urges prioritizing a visit to the veterinarian. As he told Country Living, it would help to immediately get them up to date on all vaccines. You can also consider pet insurance to help curb extra costs.

#13 I Adopted Pepè (Right) And Went Back For His Brother. No Black Cat Will Be Left Behind On My Watch!

Image credits: Sadiebutt

#14 Saw This Grumpy Lady At The Shelter Last Week And Decided To Adopt Her

Image credits: Handroid_

#15 My Cat Accepted The Kitten I Got 2 Days Ago

Image credits: Purple-Hat-3443

As mentioned in our intro, adopting a pet means taking responsibility for another life. This may require your added attention, especially since you’re dealing with a new pet thrust into an entirely different environment.

Wiese says adopters may need to adjust their schedule to allow them to provide proper care. The more time you spend, the easier it will be to develop a strong bond with them.

#16 Just Moved In, Bro Just Came In And Decided This Is Also His House

Image credits: alezcoed

Now, we would like to hear from pet adopters. What are your best tips for those planning to do it for the first time? Is there anything they should know that isn’t often discussed? Comment below!