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50 Before & After Pics Show The Difference A Day Of Adoption Can Make To A Shelter Pet
Adopting a pet is a big responsibility, and it will often change the life of the person adopting the pet. It will also, however, absolutely change the life of the pet being adopted as well. These pictures will show you how much difference a single day can make in the life of a pet that has finally been adopted.
It may take a while for some of these pets to get back to proper nutrition, but the change in many of them is psychological, not physical. The look that appears on their face once they've realized that they're going to live in a new forever home is one that probably hasn't crossed their face in a very long time.
Needless to say, if you're thinking about getting a pet, please consider the pros and cons of adoption, too! But if you've already got a cute before-and-after adoptee, we'd love to see their shining face in this post!
(h/t: buzzfeed)
This post may include affiliate links.
Spokey
Bumble Bee
Jackson
Pillow
Sandy
Ned On The Ride Home From The Shelter
Little Stray Cat
Amelia
Laurel
Bandit
That is a beautiful shepherd. They're cute when they're pups, but that is going to be a really (big) beautiful dog. Happy family!
Little Guy
Lucky little guy! And lucky owner! Such beautiful white teeth, too. Wish I could have got my dog's teeth that white.
Val
A Lucky Golden Retrievier
Stray Cat
Chex
Dumbo Plakat Betta Fish
What a amazing change his colour has totally changed ☺️ that's a happy fish xx
Mira - Found With Severe Mange - Before And After :)
Lucy Loo
Carozo Was Abandoned After Being Used By Hunters. Now In A Loving Home.
Ara:)- Adopted Her 2 Months Ago
Nora Budulis
Bodza
God, look at the hope in those eyes! And so much happier in the photo on the right :)
Mazdak(means Wise Little Guy In Persian)lost His Leg In A Car Accident In The Streets Of Tehran
Moos Before And After
Mochi, Months After Rescued From A Backyard Breeder
That's terrible! How could anyone be so cruel - the poor thing's skeletal! Looks much better now :)
Me Beloved Zoya - Adopt! Change A Life!
Mokka
I've cheated a bit. It's not after a day, but some weeks. She was very ill, and it lasted a very long time to get better.
Cinnamon
Tyron, Found Terrorised And With Pneumonia Crying Under A Car.
aaawww this is amazing the difference. the poor kitty finally got a home
<3 omg, so similar to my kitten.. very similar fur, and when I found it it was tiny and filthy and sick... now has a pretty and shiny fur
Brillo, Rescued One Year Ago. Don't Buy A Life... Adopt!
It makes me smile to see people take the time to figure out how to help their fuzzy kids instead of just giving up. You're an awesome person
#dana 1 Year Later!
Lea - When I Found Her On The Street She Was Starving And Couldn't Walk
Penny Lane
1.death Camp Shelter In Romania With Newborn Pups 2.in A Loving Family In Belgium With Her Son
Peque
Nana After 5 Years Adoption
My Name Is Oz ... And I'm A Little Wizard :)
Didi, At 2 Weeks Old ( Found In A Bush )and Now,after 3 Years In My Home With Her Teddy Bear.
Theo. Before: Scared And Lonely - Now: The Sweetest Cat Ever.
Zeus - Adopted At Age 14, And Even Younger Now One Year On :)
Ponto
My Alanek, Difference Only 12 Weeks
I think it was probably a prop and I'm sure she is grateful to be in a home where jewelry is the only thing she needs to worry about now.
Jake :)
Drako
Bella Moose
Holly Before And After Adoption
Cooper
Masni
Dini
Cocó
Jack
Gary After
Goran, Before/after
Smokey. Rescued From Abusive Owners But Is Now Loving Life!
Tree In The Streets & Tree Now Enjoying Her Mamas Couch :p
Sam - From Ragamuffin To Centre Of The Universe
Charlie
Puma :-)
My loved cat: http://www.mayane.com.br/2015/01/puma-mais-de-1-ano.html
Abigail Potato: Rescued From Kentucky, Now A Goddess In Canada
Mėta - From Animal Shelter To The Stars
Maskot
Princess Lychee: Abbandoned And Loved
Luna In The Pound And After Adoption
Hugo
Wow Hugo looks just like my Chouffe , also adopted! I hope he's equally sweet ;)
Clyde
Masinka 14 Years (4 Years In New Home)
Blanco - The Day We Got Him From The Shelter....then After Lots Of Love!
Thanks so much for saving this bun! I have a shelter bunny, too! I LOVE them! :)
Uri - 4 Year Old Stray Cat
Meet My Harper! She Was Left At An Alabama Shelter Because She Was 16 And Incontinent.
Oh my gosh she is adorable! ! Truly a match made in heaven :) Gorgeous Harper ♡
Pushkin. The Poet.
Zoé - The Hungarian Girl
Java, Puppy From A Violent Home. The Vet Said To Put Her Down. We Knew Better! The Best Dog
Frodo And Sam
Kira - Puppy Mill To Couch Collie
Read Kira's story on WordPress: https://kirapuppymilljourney.wordpress.com/about/
1 Year 2 Months After. My Son Since I Rescued Him, Otto
Chiky
Leta
Puf
Jimbo - Stray Kitten
Mila Has Been Adopted For 1 Year Now
Denis- From Skinny, Sad Kitty To Big, Fat And Happy Cat :3
Coco
Coco, followed by Puf (#80 below this post). Put them together, you have Coco Puf!
Duce :)
Mona In Brooklyn
I guess the other person commenting is not an animal lover when advocating throwing away small dogs over big dogs. All dogs are beautiful.
Succeeding From The Streets Of Taiwan - Nike The Pooch Of Victory
Iggi's Transformation... About A Month And A Half Later :)
Thank you for loving this baby and showing him he is important and wanted!
My Kitten Before: Dirty, Cross-eyed And Severely Infected By Giardia, And Today As A Home Kitty
Garfield - Before And After I Rescued Him And Helped Him To Get Himself Better.
My Girl Sobo.
Lovely Osa Fox
Emma
Sad Little Gremlin Smiling
Leo.:)
Noortje - Did Not Get Any Medical Care. Lost An Ear Because Of The Lice She Had.
Timon & Pumba, These Sisters Who Were Rescued And Grew Up Together.
Watson: The First Day We Met Him, His Ride Home, His First Day Home.
He knows... He knows he is saved, he knows he will be loved, he knows he is free, he knows he is safe... He just knows.
Wally
Heidy, your pup is adorable! Good choice :) My dog is from an allegedly aloof breed too - loves people, dogs and kids. :)
Benji
Frankie.
Sheena Got Run Over A Car, Her Hip Broke, Now She Loves To Run And Jump, She's Very Grateful.
Turbo: Rescued From A Killing Station In Spain To Happy In Ontario
Jenny - From Shelter To Spoiled!!!!!!!
From Mange To Magnificent: Maggie
Charlotte ♥
Ruby Before And After
When we adopted her, there was a sign behind her in a pic that said "Adopt me and I'll love you forever." It couldn't have been more right.
Our Rescue Lilly. Left - Day We Adopted Her. Right-pictures Of Her In The Following Weeks.
Ginger At The Shelter On The Left And After 4 Months On The Right! :)
Griffey A Few Weeks Later.
Maya
Mosby: From Shelter To Sunlight
Brewster - Her Rescue Website Puppy Photo Vs. Her Happy Dog Face
Lille Rescued From South Carolina By Operation Paws For Homes.
"kitty" The Day She Came Home And Two Months Later.
Piper: Skinny And Sticky Vs. Fat And Happy
Mr. T, A 13 Year-old Love Bug
Timtim
I don't know what this 'person's' problem is with small dogs but they're clearly blind - your dog is beautiful and so happy :)
Some Said I Had Rescued The Ugliest Dog, But Now She Is The Happiest. I Love Yoko
Bella
Pricilla At Adoption And 1 Yr Later
It took us months for Cilla to trust us. She is now a well adapted lovable family member. ❤️
Roxy Napping After Her First Bath At Home After Adoption. Then Roxy Now At 5 Yrs Old!
Dino, Almost 2 Years Since Adopted.
Luke
Moriarty, A 20+ Year Old Stray We Found 2 Months Ago
Rodney, 6 Months At Miami Dade Animal Services, Then A Year Later At Home.
Celina
Kirby Kirbmeister!
Remy The Love Bug
Phoenix
Woodford (woody) . . . Freedom
Became Best Friends In Their Shelter So We Rescued Them Both. One Year Later On A Road Trip.
It is the best thing we have ever done - they are the light of our lives, and they adore each other. It had to be. :)
Lea
Sophie! First Day And 2 Weeks After With Her Sister Minna (also Adopted 4 Years Ago)
Harper & Harry
Baxter After 5 Months - Pulled From A Kill Selter With 24 Hrs To Spare
Ryder Rescued!!
I Found Him Starving In The Street. Now, He's The Happiest Cat In The World.
Coco
Annabelle: Dumped On The Streets And Now Teaching Her Human How To Sleep
Lola Then And Now.
Tofu
Guido
My Rescue, Meka
A few days after we bought her, to this year! Shes really a great dog, and has taken a great liking to pulling me around in a sled!
Callie Cat, Before And After!
Nureyev 4 Months Apart
Tegan The Dog (mixed With Who Knows What: Corgi, Spitz, Border Collie, Sheltie, Shepherd, Bear)
Brian Rescued From Backyard Breeders
Demie And Zoie
Manu Just When We Rescued From The Stree, Then Six Months Later
Sad Baby No More!
Danae
Our Beautiful Maddie - 2 Years Ago And Now.
Hádész
Mr Darcy Was So Small We Thought He Was A Chiwawah! Look At Him Now
Belle After
Guido
Her Are My Princess Before And After Trasformation
Fi Fi, Darcys Sister,
Jessy Was Rescued From Drug Deeler 11 Mths Old Most Of Ribs Broken. Now Fighting Fit :)
Tuffin Now Tuffy Today
Snail
Snail is a retired sled dog that survived the Whistler Sled Cull where 56 dogs (including 3 of her siblings) were shot execution style.
Karma
Misty Was Separated From Her Mom At An Early Age. Before: Left. After (with Me)!: Right
Vule Wolf, Happy Dog :)
Sophie Before And After
Cocó
Princess
Frosty The Pup
Skuchnyy Before And After Coming To His New Home
Layla
Portia
Dexter Rescued From A Shelter In North Carolina
Indiana Jones Abandon And Picked Up By Lccc. Now He Goes On Vacation With Me.
Phoenix Before/after Coming Home From The Shelter
Miranda ("which Has To Be Admired")
Clara One Of Our Christmas Miracles’, She Has Found Her Forever Home
Little Jax At 8 Weeks And At 12 Mths Not So Little
Tyler, Former Feral Cat, Before And After Socialization.
Muffin
Jack!
Mikuś Befor, After And Now:)
Sun (found In The "château De Versailles" Park)
Estella
Kikito
Cash! Before And Later....
Stella Rescued From Abandoned Building. She Was Very Sick & Lost Her Eye, But Not Her Spirit
Cierra Blue
Roxy Has Been A Happy Dog For 15 Years After Being Abandoned And Abused Early In Life
Zara
Jett
Maisie - From Death Row To The Good Life!
Aiden, Rescued By Animals Lebanon, He Had Severe Skin Issues & Fearful - Completely Recovered
Meet Kona =) Left- The Day She Rescued Me, Right- Her Settling Into Her New Home =)
Tuffin Then
Toby :)
Collin Before: Emaciated & Dying At The Shelter. Collin After: A Year As Our Fur Baby
The Little Guy We Adopted From The Shelter...best Thing I've Ever Done❤️
It took Oscar a week to trust us. Now he's a chunky monkey cuddle bug. We've had him now for 8 months. We just love him
Bagpuss The Starved Abandoned Persian At The Rspca, Had Half His Matted Fur Shaved Off......
Bagpuss Was Starved And Abandoned Before We Adopted Him And Then He Became Magnificent King Cat
Candy - Before And After!
Sophie
Salem
Found Under A House At 4 Weeks, Now Lives On Beach Front Queensland Home
The Walgett Pups At 8 Weeks And At There One Year Reunion
Reagan Went From A Sad Dirty Dog In A Shelter To A Shiny Happy Wonderful Dog In A Forever Home.
Kilibaby
Hazel - Rescued By Animals Lebanon, She Was Severely Sick And Fearful - Complete Transformation
Maya When We Got Her Ad A Few Months Later
Turkey - Before And After :)
Gandalf (the Gray) Rescued From A Box On The Street
Diesel Day 1.
Maximus
Tai Bear
Tofu
Supposedly Withdrawn & Timid Dog 10 Minutes After Arriving At Our Home (on The Left).
Viena Epagneul Breton Gerettet Durch Tierschutz Berga In Spanien, Heute Glücklich In Der Pfalz
Jesus! Some of these shelters look more like haunted maximum security prisons! some of these human prisons look better than the shelters. Should be the other way around! I love the dramatic contrast of the "after" pic - from innocent victim in a maximum security prison to the loving arms of her guardian where she'll be forever safe and loved. 💖
Coupe At 11 Weeks And At 12 Mths, He Is A Deaf Australian Cattle Dog
Merlot At 6 Weeks And At 6mths, Born In Caravan To Living On A Vinyard
Milly 5 Years Old And Blind. After 2 Weeks In Rescue, Then After 4 Weeks
Bodhi: Then And Now
Houdini, Rescued From Abuse. Now Is Our Greatest Love.
Blanquito
Negro
Lucy - Adopted 3/23/14 South Suburban Humane Society, Chicago Heights, Il
Pretty Just Out Of Miami Dade Shelter
Pretty After Being Fostered By Me
Bond-adopted In 2008
Layla
Coco' From Italy
My Pincess Piera From Lida Sez. Olbia - Italy
Monty Before
A Little New Year's Gift (omega)
Stitch ♥ ...picture From The Bulletin Board In A Dog Shelter...
New Home, New Family, New Name (tiger), Lots Of Love, And No More Fear.
Baxter - From The Pound To The Beach
Pecas: From Being At The Streets With Puppies To My Home
Sumo The Fat Jedi
Bella...from Homeless To Diva!
Bick - A Bundle Of Joy:)
Jack On The Way Home
Bagpuss Safe At Home With Us!
Laika
Sasha The Goldador
Oso
This Is Bo -- When We Adopted Him He Was 50lbs, When Fed Regularly He Was A Happy 75lbs.
Bella Before And After Adoption!
Finn's Adoption Transformation
Rescued From The Streets Of Taiwan - Reginald
Rusty (first Time Meeting Him And Months After Adopting Him)
Rescued From The Streets Of Taiwan - Reginald After
Nadya Day After House Of Horrors And After
Jack At The Shelter
Monty After
Milo
Karl, Former Street Cat, Now Pampered Prince
They are all sweet. It is clear they are finally being loved. I bet the owners' pictures would show a happier change too :)
I can bet the same thing :D I do think to give shelter to one dog as well http://bit.ly/1FzaH3S
Load More Replies...True story... We adopted a rescue dog few months ago and after few days her face changed from "not interested in anything" to happy :-)
This makes me very happy, and makes us a better society reflected here, as how we treat our most vulnerable and those without a voice.
Dogs will always make your life better in every way!
Load More Replies...Just because the past didn´t turn out like you wanted it to, doesn´t mean your future can´t be better than you´ve ever imagine!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Being loved is vital.... I have had 14 cats in the past 20 years all adopted many as adults. Every one special.
Who would be happy to live in a cage? All these friends need is love and a home. Of course they are happier now :D
Looking at each and every one of those pictures brought up such intense emotions - anger, sadness, horror. . .and then sheer joy, hope and satisfaction from the 'after' pics. I think it's CRUCIAL that we raise awareness about the plight of animals in children and adolescents. We cannot depend on the parents to teach it because half of them aren't aware or don't care. There needs to be programs in schools, cartoons/kids' shows/cartoons about rescuing animals etc. That's the only way we will see change in the future.
I am sad that these poor animals saw such misery! Adpt don’t shop! Save a life adopt and make a difference!
Beautiful site, my warmest congratulations. And beautiful human beings, as well. Animals are beautiful per se, so nothing to say about them. The pics are a strong, irrebuttable argument on adoption. My two pets (a cat and a dog, in a span of almost forty years) were bought; the cat of which I'm a bit corresponsible now was found almost newly born and almost dead, in the street, by the love of my life who, kind soul as she is, wasn't very prone to pets then. Well, two years have passed and her life has changed to better, to much better. I'm so happy for both of them. And for me, Connor -that's the name of the sweet and clever and beautiful black cat-, is rekindling so many happy and cherised memories every time I see it. Keep up this good work! Sincerely, AJR, Madrid, Spain
This TRULY shows how animals can be effected psychologically from being in a shelter. The look on their faces AFTER adoption are PRICELESS.
I did time so I understand exactly how they feel. I am moving soon and can finally have a dog again!
Many people around the world make millions of pictures day by day. Only a few manage to tell a story in just one single shot. Amazing work
Glad it's not just dogs and cats. There are small animals that need adopting too.
They are all great. I would adopt all of them if I could. Pets improve and in some save your life.
I'm happy for ALL these critters, but it hurts me to see only '2' Cats--without names--while '13' Dogs--& 1 Fish--were named :( SPECIEIST
Ahhhhhhh- it's so heartbreaking to think there are people out there who do not want their pets and they end up in shelter, but I am sooooo
I think all animals need, deserve & appreciate our helping hands, after all, 'we' 'us'!!..are the problem!
rescuing and adoption is the only way to go=-the absolute love and gratitude is priceless
I suffer from chronic depression, looking at kitty, puppy, etc pics or videos makes me smile and laugh
Great to see! You can actually see the sadness disappear from their eyes and they look like they are smiling!
What great pictures that really depict misery followed by belonging and happiness xx
They all share this thing: before their eyes are dead, not even worried, just resigned and dead. And after? They are sparkling and some even
seem to smile, they have this happy face, they are radiant, it's amazing. My problem when I go in these shelters: I can't adopt all of them,
Load More Replies...I wonder if any of these before pictures are pre shelter pics or if they all are owners talking pictures right before picking them up.
They are all so beautiful & happy, I had to vote for each and every one of them! My double vote goes to all the people that adopted them.
Why there is not an article like this about adopted children. I thing the people who adopt a child are worthy of our admiration.
http://www.adoptmeforever.org/ become a foster parent or adopt one of our kiddos! We specialize in rehabilitating fearful dogs.
,after vet bills and a little patience she's not sleeping out in the cold,she happily sleeps on my pillow. Adoption is the best feeling ever
Pretty great how all the fear and uncertainty seems to have disappeared from their eyes
I adopted Simba 10 years ago when he was about 1 and I have never been happier. Recently Jasmine showed up hurt in my yard and she's now
I voted for every one of them. They all deserve their new loving homes. This was wonderfully heartwarming.
Hahahaaaaaaaaa, I was thinking about the same :)))
Load More Replies...They are all sweet. It is clear they are finally being loved. I bet the owners' pictures would show a happier change too :)
I can bet the same thing :D I do think to give shelter to one dog as well http://bit.ly/1FzaH3S
Load More Replies...True story... We adopted a rescue dog few months ago and after few days her face changed from "not interested in anything" to happy :-)
This makes me very happy, and makes us a better society reflected here, as how we treat our most vulnerable and those without a voice.
Dogs will always make your life better in every way!
Load More Replies...Just because the past didn´t turn out like you wanted it to, doesn´t mean your future can´t be better than you´ve ever imagine!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Being loved is vital.... I have had 14 cats in the past 20 years all adopted many as adults. Every one special.
Who would be happy to live in a cage? All these friends need is love and a home. Of course they are happier now :D
Looking at each and every one of those pictures brought up such intense emotions - anger, sadness, horror. . .and then sheer joy, hope and satisfaction from the 'after' pics. I think it's CRUCIAL that we raise awareness about the plight of animals in children and adolescents. We cannot depend on the parents to teach it because half of them aren't aware or don't care. There needs to be programs in schools, cartoons/kids' shows/cartoons about rescuing animals etc. That's the only way we will see change in the future.
I am sad that these poor animals saw such misery! Adpt don’t shop! Save a life adopt and make a difference!
Beautiful site, my warmest congratulations. And beautiful human beings, as well. Animals are beautiful per se, so nothing to say about them. The pics are a strong, irrebuttable argument on adoption. My two pets (a cat and a dog, in a span of almost forty years) were bought; the cat of which I'm a bit corresponsible now was found almost newly born and almost dead, in the street, by the love of my life who, kind soul as she is, wasn't very prone to pets then. Well, two years have passed and her life has changed to better, to much better. I'm so happy for both of them. And for me, Connor -that's the name of the sweet and clever and beautiful black cat-, is rekindling so many happy and cherised memories every time I see it. Keep up this good work! Sincerely, AJR, Madrid, Spain
This TRULY shows how animals can be effected psychologically from being in a shelter. The look on their faces AFTER adoption are PRICELESS.
I did time so I understand exactly how they feel. I am moving soon and can finally have a dog again!
Many people around the world make millions of pictures day by day. Only a few manage to tell a story in just one single shot. Amazing work
Glad it's not just dogs and cats. There are small animals that need adopting too.
They are all great. I would adopt all of them if I could. Pets improve and in some save your life.
I'm happy for ALL these critters, but it hurts me to see only '2' Cats--without names--while '13' Dogs--& 1 Fish--were named :( SPECIEIST
Ahhhhhhh- it's so heartbreaking to think there are people out there who do not want their pets and they end up in shelter, but I am sooooo
I think all animals need, deserve & appreciate our helping hands, after all, 'we' 'us'!!..are the problem!
rescuing and adoption is the only way to go=-the absolute love and gratitude is priceless
I suffer from chronic depression, looking at kitty, puppy, etc pics or videos makes me smile and laugh
Great to see! You can actually see the sadness disappear from their eyes and they look like they are smiling!
What great pictures that really depict misery followed by belonging and happiness xx
They all share this thing: before their eyes are dead, not even worried, just resigned and dead. And after? They are sparkling and some even
seem to smile, they have this happy face, they are radiant, it's amazing. My problem when I go in these shelters: I can't adopt all of them,
Load More Replies...I wonder if any of these before pictures are pre shelter pics or if they all are owners talking pictures right before picking them up.
They are all so beautiful & happy, I had to vote for each and every one of them! My double vote goes to all the people that adopted them.
Why there is not an article like this about adopted children. I thing the people who adopt a child are worthy of our admiration.
http://www.adoptmeforever.org/ become a foster parent or adopt one of our kiddos! We specialize in rehabilitating fearful dogs.
,after vet bills and a little patience she's not sleeping out in the cold,she happily sleeps on my pillow. Adoption is the best feeling ever
Pretty great how all the fear and uncertainty seems to have disappeared from their eyes
I adopted Simba 10 years ago when he was about 1 and I have never been happier. Recently Jasmine showed up hurt in my yard and she's now
I voted for every one of them. They all deserve their new loving homes. This was wonderfully heartwarming.
Hahahaaaaaaaaa, I was thinking about the same :)))
Load More Replies...