“Best Decision Of My Life”: 50 Of The Most Wholesome Adoption Pics From This December
It’s 2025, and what better way to kick off the year than by celebrating adorable animals who’ve found their forever homes? Adopting pets is not just about giving them shelter—it’s about creating a bond that fills your life with love, laughter, and wagging tails (or contented purrs).
We’ve compiled heartwarming stories of pets who found loving homes, showcasing the incredible transformations that happen when animals are given a second chance. Keep reading to meet these delightful furry companions and see how much joy they bring to their new families!
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I Adopted A 16 Year Old Diabetic Lady From The Shelter
I thought I would give her a comfortable, loving home for her final months but it has been almost two years now and she has showed no signs of slowing down. Miss Mango is such a joy.
Just Adopted Our Concerned-Face Foster, Oogie!
Today I Adopted This Beautiful Queen, Her Name Is Nettie And Shes 18 Years Old💞👑
Sometimes I hate myself for being too selfish to adopt a senior. Does anyone else feel that way or am I just horrible?
You're not horrible. I think a lot of us are the same way. My last cats lived until 20, 19, and 17. And it gets SO hard at the end. I wouldn't be able to handle getting attached to an animal and then losing it so quickly. I want to have them for their entire life.
Load More Replies...Your an amazing person. Look at you giving a cat some love for the final stretch to the rainbow bridge. You earned a niceness sticker
Animal shelters in the US had a busy 2023, with over 6.5 million pets entering shelters and rescue organizations. That’s 3.3 million cats and 3.2 million dogs. It was about the same as 2022, but a slight uptick compared to 2021, showing the ongoing need for shelter spaces.
Nearly half of these animals—48%—came in as strays, roaming the streets without a home to return to. Another 25% were surrendered by their owners, often due to difficult circumstances like financial struggles or housing issues, making it an emotional decision for everyone involved.
She Screamed Outside My Window Until I Let Her In😭♥️
Meet Toast! She was sitting next to my window for a day screaming at the top of her lungs and I saw no other way but to bring her in and give her food and tuck her in my blanket. She has a mom who comes and hangs out in my room for hours and uses me as a babysitter.
It's a Tortoise cat! You haven't finished having conversations with her 🤭
A Tortie, she is going to be a handful! I have one - Friday - and her personality is an entity on its own. It's her way, period. Love her to bits!
I've had 3 Torties in my life and they are the best (and weirdest) cats! We just lost our 2 old lady torties last year and it's been sad. I've been looking at kittens to adopt lately and I've got my eye out for a pair of baby torties. :)
Load More Replies...Little Guy Saved From The Floods
From OP on Reddit: Hi everyone! I just adopted my first kitty and thought I’d share his story. This is George! I live in Barcelona and this brave little buddy comes all the way from Letur, a village southwest of Valencia that was strongly affected by the recent floods you’ve probably heard about. Some absolute angels who work for a local animal rescue found him amidst the floods (see pics 2 and 3) and were able to grab him and pull him to safety. When they started looking for a permanent home for him, I couldn’t say no. Despite all the horrible things he’s been through, he’s already such a sweet and snuggly boy. He’s recovering from spending a bit too much time malnourished and from a fracture, which gives him the cutest little wobbly walk. I’m so grateful to every person who cared for him before I could take him, especially as many of them were dealing with the fallout the floods have caused in their own lives. Looking forward to many years of giving George a cozy, happy home.
Looks like he's still processing the ordeal. Bless his (and your) heart.
I Went To The Shelter To Adopt A Kitten And Ended Up Bringing Home An Old Man
Can confirm this. My daughter and I adopted cats together. When we got them home, the cats decided we'd chosen incorrectly, and swapped 'mothers'. Years later, they still stick with the person they chose for themselves.
Load More Replies...He looks like quite a character. Older cats are my favourite, as kittens are too energetic for an old fart like me.
Shelters across the country are bursting at the seams. Many have been at or over capacity for four years now, leaving them unable to accept more animals in need.
This overcrowding issue hits dogs especially hard, as their adoption rates have been slower compared to cats.
Just Adopted This Orange Girl
I'm Adopting A 15 Year Old Cat
As I am writing this I am filling out the adopting papers for a sweet little 15 year old cat, he spent his whole life as a stray and I'm wondering what to expect and more importantly what this little handsome man's name should be 🥰. I was made aware that his life will not last much longer but I wanted to give him all the best before he goes ❤️🩹
Age is just a number and there could be many years left. My Mom had a kitty who was in renal disfunction, and other older health problems. I inherited her when Mom passed, and I am convinced the only reason i lost her at 23 was because she wanted to be with her first Mom.
The heartache is rough, but it is so satisfying giving an older cat a good home in their final years.
First thing that came to mind is to say Hey My Friend. I think that’s what his name should be 😊
Load More Replies...I Adopted Ricky And We Instantly Became Best Friends ( He’s A 14 Year Old Baby)
What’s even more surprising is that the number of animals entering shelters might actually be higher. Many shelters simply don’t have the resources or space to take in all of the animals that need help, meaning the real numbers could be staggering.
Why Did I Adopt An Orange Cat Again? 😂
Just kidding, love that guy.
A void or an orange? (Ok I love all kittehs but what is it about those two?)
Adopted! First Day With The New Love Of My Life
My Zoe is a black dog. I will always adopt black dogs. This one is so lovely.
Too Heart Warming Not To Share❤️😊
Thankfully, 2023 saw 6,010,000 dogs and cats leave shelters with a "live outcome." This means they found new homes, were reunited with their original families, or were released back into their communities with proper care. It’s a glimmer of hope in a tough situation.
I Adopted The White Kitty Two Days Ago And She’s Already Best Buds With My Pibble
I Just Adopted This Cat, And She’s Currently Exploring Her New Home Like She Owns The Place. (Which, Let’s Be Honest, She Probably Does Now)
Recently Adopted Void
This is Oleander, our teeny tiny void baby. She’s 7 weeks old and causing maximum chaos.
Seven weeks old?!?! That's so young 😥 Cats are weaned only after minimum two months. Take very good care of her, you will be her "mother" for life.
Sometimes there is not an option. You finally capture a kitten outside of your house after you hear it crying for its mom for 3 days. You are allergic to cats and live in a rental that does not allow pets. The only responsible solution is to bring it to a no-kill shelter so it can be taken care of and adopted by loving people.
Load More Replies...I waited our kittens were until 8 weeks and the no kill shelter said they were too old even though I was paying for them to take them, spaying the mom who adopted us and keeping and neutered the void asap. We were trying to ween, get vet visits and adopt out 5 kittens unexpectedly.
Who let you adopt at 7 weeks? :( Be gentle... She wasn't ready to leave Mama yet.
Kittens can be abandoned by their moms or their moms may have been hit by a car, etc. Just about anyone in rescue has handled very young "bottle babies" who need to be fed every two hours round the clock.
Load More Replies...Adoption rates are slowly climbing, especially for cats! An impressive 61% of shelter animals, including both cats and dogs, left through adoption this year. This upward trend shows that more people are opening their hearts and homes to these animals.
One Week Since Adoption Of 11 Yo Michigan Orange
Yes, sweet face, although he doesn't look 100% -- his right eye needs some attention, and his nose is dry. I'm always on the look out, with love.
Please clean around his eyes with a damp q-tip and give him a nice brush. He's very handsome.
Adopted These 2 Goodest Boys
thank you, they certainly look they have been together all their lives
We Have Officially Adopted Benny!
Cats seem to be the stars of the show this year, with 2.6 million—65% of their total intake—finding forever homes. It’s amazing to see how many families have embraced these furry companions and given them a second chance.
Roast Fern. Just Adopted Her And She Thinks She Owns My Place
Pics Taken Shortly After Adoption. He Was Questioning My Choices For Taking A Bath. I Can See He’s Judging Me
I have a prudish Snowshoe Siamese. I must never be caught out disrobed in front of him ever. Or he gives me that face.
Just Adopted This Girl As A Holiday Gift For My Wife And Son. Meet Sage!
Oh my - someone is going to grow into those very large paws. What a cutie.
Some people never check the paws! He’s gonna be a big lap dog😂
Load More Replies...Let's hope Sage is wanted and kept as a companion for life, not just Christmas!
Dogs are doing well, too, though their adoption rate is slightly behind. About 2.2 million dogs, or 56% of those taken in, were adopted in 2023. While there’s still room for improvement, it’s heartening to see so many pups finding loving homes.
We Adopted An Ubelievably Sweet, (We Were Told Atleast 50%), Very Dark Brown Lab
Yeah, when we adopted our baby, they told us she was a Pomeranian mix. Nope. A papillon chihuahua mix.
Load More Replies...Gorgeous color, and hybrids have more vigor and fewer sicknesses that some purebreds. Smart move!
New Dog. I Adopted This Young Lady As A Rescue 2 Weeks Ago. I’ve Named Her Nessa Which Means Young One. She’s Extremely Playful, Loves Fetch, And Is A Super Cuddler Velcro Pup. 🥰 Please Welcome Us To The Thread!
Found This Stinky Girl In A Sonic Parking Lot 🥺💗
We found this little girl while we were waiting for drinks at sonic over thanksgiving break. My sister, mother, and I saw a little cat dashing across lot before all the employees came out to try and catch her. She ran under our car and my sister and I got out to grab her when she ran up into the wheels. Thankfully we caught her and we looked around the neighborhood near by for signs of a litter or a mother cat but nothing. So we took her to pet smart and bought her some wet food, a bed, and a crate. She desperately needed a bath as she was rly stinky and had fleas but we didn’t have time.
Unfortunately, my sister and were visiting family out of state had absolutely no idea what to do when we caught her since no one could take the kitten home. Luckily she was able to call some of her friends in the area and soon enough we were driving an hour to bring her to a new home!!
Fastest find and adoption ever lol
These adoption rates highlight the vital role shelters and rescues play in giving animals a second chance. Every pet that finds a home is a testament to the hard work of these organizations and the compassion of adopters.
Adopted Her Today ☺️
She’s precious. Can I please let you know that it’s a known fact that those bells cause distress. They have great hearing and hearing the Sharp ringing whenever they move, is something that really bothers them and can cause anxiety.
Thank you for saying that. My opinion is that a house cat should'nt be belled. You might as well put a bell on your toddler. Wait a minute, that's actually not a bad idea for toddlers.
Load More Replies...What a stunning cat! Everything about it is intriguing....The white mittens, socks, and scarf, the attentive ears, the well-defined stripes, the stolid stance...and yes, those INCREDIBLE big green eyes!
Our Recently Adopted Pirate Boy Tony
He is beautiful. Are there any challenges if you choose to adopt a cat with one eye? Judy curious
We found a kitten with no eyes when I was younger, and other than making sure his face was clean so nothing got infected (we were pretty poor and never had his lids sewn shut), he navigated the house like a normal cat. Cats have excellent sensory skills and he could jump onto counters and window sills perfectly.
Load More Replies...we have another one eye (Jack, former feral) ... when he gets spooked he can run into thing on his blind side
It partly depends on how they lost the eye. I had a cat who was hit by a car & had a hemorrhage in her brain while in the vet hospital overnight. Her depth perception was a bit off for a while. The saddest part is that we had to re-home our other 2 cats, as they wouldn't stop attacking her.
Meet Steve! Adopted And Finally Acclimated To My Other Chin!!
Chinnies are the cutest, softest, and funniest little buggers! You have to guard your books though! They'll chew away at each one given half a chance, and find the older more valuable books are the tastiest!
Sounds like you're speaking from experience there. Lol
Load More Replies...While the challenges for shelters remain significant, there’s an undeniable effort to ensure no animal is left behind. So, if you’re thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, consider adopting—you’ll not only save a life but will also gain a loyal companion.
First Night At Home After Being Adopted From The Shelter!
We Just Adopted This Little Lab Pup, Welcome Home Arya
Our New Boy Marcel, Bsh?
My New Kingdom Is Nice I’m A Sleep
New To The Cat World And Recently Adopted Two Kittens! Even Though They’re From The Same Litter Their Fur Is Extremely Different. Any Idea On Their Breed?
Cats can actually give birth to kittens from different dads in one litter.
I think the breed is Really-cute-and-fluffy-cats-that-make-biscuits-and-love-you
Let me say this about that: Breed, schmeed. What they are is sweet little good kittens.
Just moggies: mixed breed cats like most are. Not unusual for kittens in the same litter to be different colours and have different coats.
Probably no breed, just regular ol' felus catus. In truth, purebred cats can have certain health problems (depending on breed) that regular cats don't have. A cat is a cat though, in that they will take over your home and your heart.
I rescued a cat once that gave me 4 kittens. 2 of them had silky fur, and two of them had fur like cotton.
My New Baby Girl I Adopted Her Yesterday
Adopted My First Ever Dog Yesterday! Say Hi To Eevee. She's 7 Years Old And As Sweet As She Is Lazy. Looking Forward To Draining My Bank Account From Her!
She is so sweet! If you get pet insurance, that can help with future vet bills.
Absolutely! I had insurance for my tiny girls when they got older. I would do it all over again, it helped so much during their final years.
Load More Replies.......draining my bank account.... LMAO. Welcome to the club! I hope you have many many happy and healthy years together!
I Adopted Her !
Adopted From A Cat Cafe- And Made Himself Right At Home On My Bed
Yepp ..tried to put it delicately but this sumdms it up
Load More Replies...Our Newest Member Of The Family: Ignacia ❤️
I Adopted Two Girls :)
OMG! I want these precious babies. We lost our 2 old lady torties last year and I'm dying to adopt a pair of tortie kittens. Double the trouble! :)
Sorry for your losses. On petfinder, you can search by breed.
Load More Replies...We Adopted This Floofster A Week Ago. I Haven’t Stopped Cracking Up Since
Her name is Pepper (though she mainly goes as “little one” in our native language) and she’s a munchkin/longhair Scottish Fold mix (don’t ask). Adopted from a family that developed an allergy. She’s our third (the other two are at the end of the roll). I’ve never been one for tiny kitties (she’s all of 6.9 lbs), but she’s already potatoed her way all the way into the depths of my cold dark heart. Can’t wait to properly introduce her to the household (right now she’s hanging out in the basement waiting for her FeLV vax to fully take hold).
What a magnificent coat; and the purple tongue along with the gray-green eyes is stunning!
My Boyfriend’s New Kitties!
Just wanted to share here since they’re SO adorable. Last year my bf lost his cat that has been with him for more than 15 years and now his family finally adopted new kitties :)
lucky kitties. Have a wonderful life together. (don't pull down the drapes in the first week)
Hi! Meet Ube💜 I Hope We Are In The Right Place 🥹
Just Adopted Today
We Just Adopted These Cute Babies And It Was The Best Decision Ever ❤️
Shih Tzus. Great dogs but they require frequent grooming, their coats must be maintained.
Load More Replies...Original poster said s/he got them "from my friend, they said they won't be able to accommodate them anymore."
Load More Replies...Meet Luna
I Adopted The Cutest Animal To Ever Walk The Earth Today
Adopted This Little Girl A Few Days Ago, So In Love!
Adopted A Kitten, And He Already Wants To Repeat A Popular Meme
Meet The Herd 🩷
We adopted two girls to keep our rescue girl company--meet Peanut (white with brown face markings) Cocoa (Agouti with white face markings) and Caramel, Mellie for short, (brown and blonde)!
Peanut and Caramel are both a little under a year, and Cocoa is about 4, and is the flattest peeg I've met.
Settling Into My Forever Home!
Adopted 5year Old Kitty
In the world of rescue stories, the tale of an abandoned panther finding solace in a new home shares a common thread with countless other animals who have been given a second chance at life.
The heartwarming journey of Luna and her caregiver exemplifies the powerful bond that can form between humans and animals when love and dedication are involved. This remarkable story is a testament to how meaningful it is to nurture a deep connection with rescued animals.
Over A Week Post-Adoption - Madam Mimm 🖤
Went To Petsmart For Dog Food- Walked Out With A Kitten
First Time Cat Owner
This Is Pearl! Adopted 4 Days Ago, And She's Already Ruling The Bed. Settle So Well Now! Best Christmas Gift Ever.❤
Just Adopted, First Overnight Success
I Just Adopted This 10-Year Old Girl. Her Name Is Penny
Please Meet My New Roommates!
Just Adopted This Cutie!!!
Cat I Adopted Yesterday
He or she looks so comfortable and settled in. I hope you both enjoy a long time together.
This May Be The Best Picture I’ve Ever Taken
Newly Adopted: Butter And Scotch 🐱🐱
A New Sister For Christmas!
We adopted our lab/pit mix, Blackjack, almost 2 years ago and this morning we adopted his hound mix sister, Courtney! Not sure if she's staying Courtney or if a name evolution is in her future!
Meet Chilli, Approx 18 Months Old. I’ve Had Her 2 Weeks!
Adopted My Baby Just In Time For Christmas
Adopted Our Own Little Void And Orange Boy
Adopted My First Cat Today 💗
Adopted This Cute Little Guy Yesterday. Meet Severus!
Just Adopted A Duo Of Sic Bro/Sis! Only 4 Months Old :)
They look so much like my two that I just adopted. I'm like did I make a secret reddit account that I don't remember?
Did the cats make a secret reddit account and not tell you? 👿
Load More Replies...New Rescue
Adopted this 8yo girlie on Sunday. She's perfect in almost every way. We're working through some aggression that she's been displaying toward my partner when he comes in the garage door. She does it out of fear, but she made amazing progress this afternoon and I'm so proud of her
Adopted This Young Gentleman (5 Months Old According To Vet) Today, He's My First Pet, What Should I Know/Any Tips/Advice?
Yes, and be patient. Provide love, toys, maybe consider getting him another young kitty friend to play with. Lots of sites give great advice.
Load More Replies...Adopted The Cuddliest Lovebug Imagineable With The Cutest Scarf And Semi Mustache
Meet Ripley!
This Is Our Adopted Girl Lola Beans!
Our New Family Member
We Adopted This Little Grey Kitty Only A Few Hours Ago. She Fits In Perfectly
Little Lord Winston Our Newly Adopted Kitten
Only when you give up and go to post it as a giveaway.
Load More Replies...New Tuxie Baby, Ketchup
One Week Anniversary Of This Little Guy Being Mine!
"No, I'm sitting here. You can't do work, you need to play with me."
8 Month Old Pepper
First Good Pic Of My Boy🥰
Just Adopted! He Is Soooo Smol And The Toof Ahhh
Sasha! Our New, Silly Little Void
Yesterday We Adopted Frank The Mini Dachshund
Welcome Biscuit!
I got biscuit from my grandpa yesterday, she’s super nervous but I’m trying to give her some tuna as a peace offering!!
From PetMD: "Cats should be offered no more than 1 tablespoon of plain, unseasoned, cooked human-grade tuna, once a week. Kittens should not be offered tuna until after they're at least 1 year old."
Please put the food on a plate closer to the cat. The sharp can top may cut the kitty.
I Just Adopted Him, Do You Think He Is Comfortable?🥺
Potiental Foster For My Family That Got Adopted, Amara!
Adopted Little ‘Mango’ This Weekend 🥭
Just Adopted Pixel. She’s Tiny But Mighty!
Meet Hercules!
My boyfriend and I adopted a kitten Friday night. He’s settling in well and living up to the orange cat stories.
We Just Adopted Our New Boy, Teddy!
This Is Beef. We Just Adopted Her Snubby-Nosed Face Yesterday
Hire her out to Wendy's. They can use her in their, "where's the beef" commercials.
I wish many days of love and joy to all the fur babies and their humans.
Every time I see one of these about adopted pets I get all fuzzy and warm - very embarrassing, but feels so good!
Want to see more than 49 pics without paying BP? Go to https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/
Have three cats; all adopted through friends looking for homes. Two of them are around 2 and the 3rd is my neighbor's senior cat who I took in after he passed. Sh is afraid of other animal interaction and has her own set up in my closet. Outside of not being non-social, I wanted to make sure that the didn't wind up in a shelter. I feel like older pets get overlooked. I want every animal to feel love and taken care of at every stage of their life and never to be forgotten or unwanted. I wouldn't want to wind up in a nursing home with no friends or family to look after me while I wait to die. Why should they be treated differently?
I adopted this lovely lady six years ago as a one year old. Someone brought her and her newborns to the shelter in a box hoping they would have better futures than life as strays. The lady who ran the shelter said that when she opened the box, she saw two big blue eyes staring back at her. It reminded her of the aurora borealis, so she named her Aurora. I adopted her when the babies were weaned, and her kittens were all adopted soon after. Miss Aurora is such a wonderful friend. image_5040...918154.jpg
She’s beautiful. She looks very similar to my rescue girl!
Load More Replies...I wish many days of love and joy to all the fur babies and their humans.
Every time I see one of these about adopted pets I get all fuzzy and warm - very embarrassing, but feels so good!
Want to see more than 49 pics without paying BP? Go to https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/
Have three cats; all adopted through friends looking for homes. Two of them are around 2 and the 3rd is my neighbor's senior cat who I took in after he passed. Sh is afraid of other animal interaction and has her own set up in my closet. Outside of not being non-social, I wanted to make sure that the didn't wind up in a shelter. I feel like older pets get overlooked. I want every animal to feel love and taken care of at every stage of their life and never to be forgotten or unwanted. I wouldn't want to wind up in a nursing home with no friends or family to look after me while I wait to die. Why should they be treated differently?
I adopted this lovely lady six years ago as a one year old. Someone brought her and her newborns to the shelter in a box hoping they would have better futures than life as strays. The lady who ran the shelter said that when she opened the box, she saw two big blue eyes staring back at her. It reminded her of the aurora borealis, so she named her Aurora. I adopted her when the babies were weaned, and her kittens were all adopted soon after. Miss Aurora is such a wonderful friend. image_5040...918154.jpg
She’s beautiful. She looks very similar to my rescue girl!
Load More Replies...
