There are many perks to having a pet, as most owners can attest, be it companionship, playtime, or derpy faces. That’s why every biased person—referring to the pet owners again—is likely to encourage you to go for it, if you say a single word about considering getting one.

Quite a few of them might also encourage you to ‘adopt not shop’, and luckily, some people do. If you’re an avid reader of Bored Panda, you already know that we have a monthly appreciation post for those golden-hearted individuals, featuring pictures of their Adopted additions to the family; if you’re not—continue scrolling, as what you’re about to see ought to boost your levels of serotonin. Here’s the September edition of adopted pets in their forever homes.

Bored Panda has turned to two experts in the field of animal welfare, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science, Laura A. Reese, and Fran Marino Distinguished Professor of Shelter Medicine Education at the University of Florida, Julie K. Levy, to learn more about the ins and outs of adopting a pet. You will find our interview with them below.

#1 We Adopted A Mother And Son Combo From The Shelter, They Are Inseparable

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#2 Jedo Had A Reduced Adoption Fee At The Shelter Where I Foster. He’s A Senior Gentlemen Doing His Best To Be Handsome! He's Just Been Adopted

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Adopting a pet entails so many benefits for both of the involved parties. Welcoming a critter—be it a dog, a cat, a parrot, or any other, for that matter—into their home can improve the owner’s mental and even physical well-being; while for the critter itself, it means finally being cared for and loved.

“Pets are great nonjudgmental companions for both adults and children. It’s also been shown that having a pet reduces stress and reduces risk from heart disease, obesity, asthma, and other health threats,” Fran Marino Endowed Distinguished Professor of Shelter Medicine Education Julie Levy told Bored Panda in a recent interview.

#3 Only Took 1 Day After Adopting Him For Him To Adopt Us

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#4 We Adopted This Big Guy This Past Weekend, Was Told He Would Hide And Burrow As He Was Quite Timid. This Was Day Two At His Forever Home

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#5 My Lovely (Around 14 Years Old) Cat Who No One Wanted To Adopt

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It’s clear that no matter how hardworking and loving shelter employees are, such a habitat can’t even come close to the environment in a loving home. “No matter how hard shelter workers try to make the pets comfortable, it’s still an institutional setting that can lead to stress behaviors and illnesses,” Professor Levy said. “That’s why we work so hard to place them in new homes as quickly as possible. That can be a foster home or a forever home.”

#6 Adopted James. He’s About 5 Years Old. He Has Stomatitis And Had To Have All His Teeth Pulled. His Tongue Sticks Out All The Time. He Lost All Of His Hair. It Has Grown Back Except By His Ears. He Has To Take Two Medicines Daily Forever. But, He’s Got A Forever Home To Do It In

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#7 Went To Adopt A Puppy. Came Back With Her And Her Mum

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#8 After Losing My Cats After A Breakup, I Adopted This Silly Guy

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Animal welfare policies and animal sheltering expert Laura Reese seconded the idea that staying in a shelter is far from the best scenario for any animal. “Animal shelters are very difficult places for pets—lots of noise and stress, limited exercise and interactions with humans and other animals.

“Getting into a home makes a world of difference for their emotional and physical well-being. Being placed in a foster home until adoption helps them a lot, but the goal is to have them adopted.”

#9 My Wife Has A Tabby Addiction. All Stray Cats She's Rescued In The Last Year

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#10 Finally Adopted Some Kitties Since Wanting Them All My Life. I Haven't Felt This Happy In A Long While

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#11 Our Senior Shelter Dog Rufus Adopted A Baby Goat Who’s Mama Didn’t Take Her

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Both of the experts agree that a pet’s personality tends to change after transitioning into a loving home. “There is a lot of change in behavior and it's difficult to tell in a shelter what a pet's behavior will be like,” Laura Reese pointed out.

She explained that shelter behavior tests are not particularly valid indicators of a pet’s behavior once they get into a home and can relax, as there is always an adjustment period in the new dwelling.

“My dog was very fearful of humans when I adopted her seven years ago. She is still improving even after all this time,” Prof. Reese shared. “Dog personalities are pretty malleable, open to changes in training and treatment. Cats are a bit less so but I regularly foster them, and though they usually come into my house hissing and hiding, working with them slowly and gaining trust allows them to come out of their shells. This will happen in an adoptive home as well.”

#12 My Newly Adopted Dog. She’s Very Energetic And Playful. Loves The Ocean

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#13 Rescued Squirrel (Named Cricio) Falling Asleep In My Mum's Lap (Oc)

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#14 Cosmo The Dog. Can You Believe He Was A Rescue?!

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“We have to remember to give pets some grace when they’re transitioning from a shelter to a new home,” Julie K. Levy emphasized. “There’s a lot to take in—new people, a new house, and sometimes other pets to make new friends with. But it’s remarkable how quickly a pet’s personality can change from a reactive or depressed shelter pet to a happy and relaxed family member in a ‘real home’.”

#15 I Adopted Him 72 Hours Ago, I’m Already In Love

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#16 My Newly Adopted Son Leo, A Vizsla Mix

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#17 When I Adopted Toby They Said He Was Vicious... The Only Thing Correct About That Is He Is Viciously Cute ?

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After bringing our family dog home from a shelter just over three years ago, I have seen with my own eyes the change he went through. Shy and fearful at first, he is now… still shy; but far less fearful. Over time, he started to show off his personality more and more, and figure out what to do with these unflavorful knick knacks I give him—it’s safe to assume that he hadn’t had that many toys in his life before the shelter or before the forever home. Needless to say, the situation is much different now.

#18 Farmer Was Feeding Kittens To Their Dogs, & I Rescued Her. How Did The Cat Distribution System Give You Your Cat?

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#19 "(Oc)" My Crossed Eyed Rescue Kitty, After Cleaning Her Fur

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#20 Sooo, My Dad Adopted Another Puppy

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Expert in shelter animal wellness Julie K. Levy pointed out that when it comes to a dog’s adjustment to the new home, shelters often refer to the ‘3-3-3-Rule’. “A good rule of thumb to remember is it takes about three days to decompress from shelter life and the big transition; they may be scared or confused. Give them space, let them rest, do not force interactions, be patient and positive. 

“It takes about three weeks for the dog to understand the new routine,” she continued. “Be consistent in feeding and play times and set boundaries and expectations using only positive reinforcement as they let their guard down.

“It takes about three months for the dog to fully bond with and become part of the family. They feel trusting and secure in their new routines and their true personality shines through.”

#21 Meet Teddy. He Was A Surrender To A Local Shelter Because Of "Behaviors". Their Loss. Just Goes To Show Any Dog Can Be A Good Dog With Training And Love

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#22 We Adopted This Handsome Boy Today. He's Called Benny

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#23 We Adopted Our First Cat In This Country. I'd Like To Introduce You Guys Our Little Princess Safira. Isn't She The Cutest?

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No two cases are the same, that’s why certain character traits of the pet, or joys and troubles raising it tend to differ with each individual one—whether they were taken from a shelter or not.

“Adopters are not going to encounter any different problems than anyone else who acquires a pet. It is a myth that there is something ‘wrong’ with shelter animals,” Laura Reese told Bored Panda. “They are in the shelter primarily because of human-related issues like losing a home, not having enough time for training, letting them run loose.

“There are particular advantages to adopting adult animals from shelters,” she added. “They often come house trained, you are able to tell more about their personalities, you know exactly how big they are going to get, and many already have a lot of discipline.”

#24 This Is Mango My Rescue Conure. Earlier Today I Was Singing After My Shower And She Started To Fall Asleep

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#25 A Rooster "Adopted" Me. He "Ran Away" From Home (2 Houses Near Me) Because The Other Younger Rooster Beats Him Up. I'm Stuck With Him And Feel Sorry For Him And Want Him To Be Happy/Have A Nice Life

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#26 Just Adopted This 10 Year Old Sweetie

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Another point both the experts seem to agree on is the importance of taking action. “Shelters and rescues across the country are full to the brim with adoptable pets right now and it appears that adoptions are down,” Prof. Reese pointed out. “To avoid euthanasia for space in high-volume shelters, adoptions need to increase.”

J. K. Levy added that more pets are coming into shelters than are being adopted. “Sadly, shelters are experiencing crisis-level crowding as families face challenges like inflation and housing insecurity. There’s never been a more important time to adopt a new best friend.”

According to the World Animal Foundation, roughly 6.3 million of cats and dogs alone are surrendered to animal shelters annually, only 4 million of which find a home every year.

#27 Our Adopted Angel

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#28 I Caved And We Adopted Her. Now Known At June

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#29 Found This Little Guy As A Barn Cat The Other Week During A Birthday Party. He Instantly Got Glued To Me. I Asked If I Could Adopt Him. As You Can See, They Said Yes Lol

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#30 Remember Oompa From Our Shelter. Today He Was Adopted After More Than Two Years With Us. Good Bye My Sweet Gentleman, Have A Great Life!

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#31 Someone Abandoned A Box Of Bunnies On A Wooded Trail Near My House. They Are Sweet As Honey. Love Being Held And Cuddled

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#32 Just Adopted A New Puppy! Meet Georgia!

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#33 Adopted Lilli Last Friday, Only To Discover She Was About To Pop

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#34 Adopted A Pound Kitty Last Week! This Is Margaret

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#35 We've Just Adopted Mollie, And Crazy In Love With Her!

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#36 Rural Rescue Kitten

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#37 [oc] Say Hi To My One-Eared Rescue, Kuro!

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#38 Rescue Pup Finally Feeling At Home. This Is Snow

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#39 I Think I Officially Adopted The Cutest Girl In The World

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#40 I Like To Think I Have The Cutest Kitten. I Adopted Her From The Street At 4mo. 2nd Pic Is The Day I Found Her

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#41 My Rescue Kitten, Gizmo, Wanted To Say Hello Today!

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#42 Just Want To Show Off My Girl Miss Nibble, Who I Adopted Via Craigslist

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#43 Meet Simi. She's So Chill And Sweet [oc]

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#44 We Drove 1800 Miles To Adopt An Scared, Unsocialized Pooch. This Is Her At Home

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#45 Our New Babies..ozzy And Cream

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#46 Our Newest Rescue, Pixel!

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#47 I'm Starting To Think She Was The One Who Rescued Me And Not The Other Way Around. Introducing…chloe! ♡ (Oc)

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#48 Adopt Don’t Shop. Our Newly Adopted Dog Lumi With Her Bigger Brother

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#49 Adopted A Snake! Wanted One Since I Was A Little Girl And He Is The Most Adorable Baby Ever!!!

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#50 My First Rabbit - Nicknamed Bunbun Because I Cannot Think Of A Cute Name Ever

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