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In the US, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters every year (of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats). Some estimate that this number has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011.

To both celebrate the improvement and remind ourselves that we can still do better, we at Bored Panda are continuing our monthly series, showcasing the sweetest newly adopted pet pictures we can find.

Continue scrolling to meet the growing families, and for more feels, take a look at our earlier collections: September, August, July.

#1

We Adopted Luna Last Week And She Had Her First Grooming Appointment Today. I'm Not Sure We Got The Same Dog Back

We Adopted Luna Last Week And She Had Her First Grooming Appointment Today. I'm Not Sure We Got The Same Dog Back

Squirrel338 Report

#2

Rescued This Older Gal Recently

Rescued This Older Gal Recently

This is Molli. She’s 13 and this is the first time she snuggled with me like this since I got her

idkmaria Report

In 2020 and early 2021, the world saw record pet adoption rates, providing happy tales when they were needed the most. But now, in 2022, many of our shelters are swamped again.

“Shelters who haven't had to euthanize in 10 or 15 years are having to again,” said Tammy Dodson, a long-time rescue advocate who coordinates rescue transports out of Wise County, Virginia, moving dogs and cats north to rescues and adopters via the Animal Rescue Coalition.

#3

Not Only Is He Illegally Small, But This Is The First Brown Cat Our Rescue Has Ever Pulled Out Of Thousands! How Cool Is He?

Not Only Is He Illegally Small, But This Is The First Brown Cat Our Rescue Has Ever Pulled Out Of Thousands! How Cool Is He?

grayshush Report

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tara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yayyy!!! I have a brown cat too! She is snotty and beautiful and amazing, and she knows it. I thought she was a real rarity. Until I met my neighbors brown cat......

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#4

I Adopted The Shyest Cat At The Shelter And They Said He May Never Warm Up To Humans. We Are Doing Good

I Adopted The Shyest Cat At The Shelter And They Said He May Never Warm Up To Humans. We Are Doing Good

Duck__Holliday Report

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BlackestDawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In many cases shy or even aggressive animals behave so due to the comparatively stressful environment of the shelter, and sometimes from past experiences and/or trauma. Once home and they get to know you and that environment most mellow out and can become really affectionate and loving. Unfortunately the reverse does exists though it's much rarer to my knowledge, and I believe in most cases it's due to the expectations of new owner.

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#5

Couldn't Decide Which To Adopt, So I Kept The Family Together & Adopted All 3

Couldn't Decide Which To Adopt, So I Kept The Family Together & Adopted All 3

CatDaddyWhisper Report

It’s not that a higher percentage of pandemic adoptions are resulting in returns. For example, the return rates for dogs have remained around 10 percent.

But 10 percent of recent adoptees will result in a much higher total number than in the years prior

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#6

I Heard A Kitten Crying Through An Open Window Last Night. I Think He's Glad To Be Rescued

I Heard A Kitten Crying Through An Open Window Last Night. I Think He's Glad To Be Rescued

corobe11 Report

#7

Rescued This Little Guy From The Hood Of A Car A Few Days Ago

Rescued This Little Guy From The Hood Of A Car A Few Days Ago

dreamsswt Report

#8

My GF Recently Adopted Old Man Sampson(18) He’s Mostly Def And His Back Legs Are Getting Worse, But He Still Loves Sniffing Around And Going For Walkies

My GF Recently Adopted Old Man Sampson(18) He’s Mostly Def And His Back Legs Are Getting Worse, But He Still Loves Sniffing Around And Going For Walkies

loneliness_sucks_D Report

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ThatHuskyStorm
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s nice that he gets to live out his glory years with love and a home to call his own.

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#9

I Volunteer At A Shelter And Had Managed To Refrain From Adopting A Dog For Years, But A Month Ago This Girl Instantly Obliterated My Resolve. Her Adoption Is Finalized Tomorrow

I Volunteer At A Shelter And Had Managed To Refrain From Adopting A Dog For Years, But A Month Ago This Girl Instantly Obliterated My Resolve. Her Adoption Is Finalized Tomorrow

plentyoflasagna Report

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Deborah B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The eyes! How could you resist her when she looks at you with her eyes like that?

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Dogs are being surrendered to shelters and rescues in record numbers. At Big Dog Ranch in Florida, they normally take in one owner surrender a day, but they’re currently taking about seven. It's a similar story at one shelter after another.

Some of these dogs are young purebreds purchased during the pandemic whose breed eccentricities or needs were too much for a new owner, but many are being given up because their owners can no longer afford them, or their work or housing situation has changed drastically.

#10

We Adopted Flower A Few Weeks Ago After First Fostering Because We "Weren't Ready For Another Dog". She Very Much Loves My Boyfriend And Also Sits Like This

We Adopted Flower A Few Weeks Ago After First Fostering Because We "Weren't Ready For Another Dog". She Very Much Loves My Boyfriend And Also Sits Like This

pastelmonsters Report

#11

This Is Jagger At The Saveafox Domestic Fox Rescue. He Just Got A Pumpkin As A Treat

This Is Jagger At The Saveafox Domestic Fox Rescue. He Just Got A Pumpkin As A Treat

mac_is_crack Report

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Virgil Blue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never seen a fox with patterns like this before. Is he changing into his winter coat? Anyway, looking good Jagger!

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#12

My Smol Rescue, I'm In Love

My Smol Rescue, I'm In Love

mmkmakar Report

#13

Adopted A New Kitten And My Void Instantly Accepted Him!

Adopted A New Kitten And My Void Instantly Accepted Him!

jess_611 Report

However, not all is bad. Clear the Shelters 2022 wrapped up with some fantastic news: the campaign found homes for more pets than ever before.

According to a release from NBCUniversal Local, Clear the Shelters — a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign — helped more than 161,500 pets find their forever families during 2022's program, which ran from Aug. 1-31. This is the highest single-year adoption total in the initiative's eight-year history.

#14

We Adopted A Very Shy Kitten Last Sunday. This Morning He Came Up To Me And Sat On My Lap All On His Own For The First Time

We Adopted A Very Shy Kitten Last Sunday. This Morning He Came Up To Me And Sat On My Lap All On His Own For The First Time

GrindinMolcajete Report

#15

We Just Adopted This Goofy Big Boy Named Barnacle - 15 Weeks Old And Bigger Than Our Two Year Old Cat!

We Just Adopted This Goofy Big Boy Named Barnacle - 15 Weeks Old And Bigger Than Our Two Year Old Cat!

DonutPlains Report

#16

Jellybean Rescued My Husband This Weekend And Now They Are Inseparable

Jellybean Rescued My Husband This Weekend And Now They Are Inseparable

hastag_cats Report

#17

I Posted A Few Days Ago About Old Man Earl At The Shelter I Volunteer At

I Posted A Few Days Ago About Old Man Earl At The Shelter I Volunteer At

 Well I adopted him today. He is skeletal and I think he needs a sweater. So far he enjoys squirrel watching on the open window sill

outlander345 Report

The fundraiser of Clear the Shelters 2022 also delivered big this year, with more than $540,000 in donations going to Clear the Shelters' partner animal rescues. (Amazon's 'Stream It Forward' initiative in partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition committed $100,000 of the donation total.)

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#18

Flora Was Rescued From Neglectful Owners And Due To Illness Can't Close Her Mouth Fully. Now She Has A Perma-Blep, Good Thing She Doesn't Seem To Care

Flora Was Rescued From Neglectful Owners And Due To Illness Can't Close Her Mouth Fully. Now She Has A Perma-Blep, Good Thing She Doesn't Seem To Care

drekinn_riddari Report

#19

Recently Rescued This Little Old Lady And From The Looks Of It She Loves Car Rides

Recently Rescued This Little Old Lady And From The Looks Of It She Loves Car Rides

island_toy Report

#20

Rescued This Kitten From Behind A Dumpster, Meet Mittens!

Rescued This Kitten From Behind A Dumpster, Meet Mittens!

H0lsterr Report

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Mountainslady1
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're under arrest for being illegally smol. Sentence is lifetime of cuddles. Starting now.

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#21

This Illegally Smol Criminal Has Been Living In My Back Yard. No One Wants To Adopt Her So I Guess She Is Now My Illegally Smol Criminal

This Illegally Smol Criminal Has Been Living In My Back Yard. No One Wants To Adopt Her So I Guess She Is Now My Illegally Smol Criminal

6018674512 Report

#22

A Pile Of Rescue Voidlings

A Pile Of Rescue Voidlings

Mundane_Ostrich Report

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Crazy Meerkat Lady
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please draw your attention to the little white fluffy bird on the left that is being flipped discreetly. I repeat, on the left he is flipping us the fluffy bird.

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#23

This Little Guy Just Adopted Us... Walked In To The House Right Behind Me

This Little Guy Just Adopted Us... Walked In To The House Right Behind Me

MadmanKe_254 Report

#24

Adopted The Goodest Boy Today

Adopted The Goodest Boy Today

tanner1111 Report

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Susan Green
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My day is complete now. Looking at all of these cute rescues has made me so happy.

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#25

This Is My Grandderp, Leo. My Husband Rescued Him Right After This Picture Was Taken

This Is My Grandderp, Leo. My Husband Rescued Him Right After This Picture Was Taken

AwkwardAquarian Report

#26

George Is The Name Of The Little Kitten That My Sister Adopted

George Is The Name Of The Little Kitten That My Sister Adopted

When I enter the room, it waits for me hidden to play with its little claws and teeth. I have a feeling that when it grows up it will be terrible but it doesn't matter, my heart is yours

latindollbaby Report

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Nea
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a cat person but this still melted my heart 💗

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#28

Just A Little Rescue Cat. She Is Wonderful

Just A Little Rescue Cat. She Is Wonderful

DTMBBQ Report

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Sergy Yeltsen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always gotta love the juxtaposition of big, tough men and little, fluffy cats.

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#29

Passionfruit Wants To Thank Everyone For Supporting Our Rescue

Passionfruit Wants To Thank Everyone For Supporting Our Rescue

PupsandKittens1512 Report

#30

Our Little Rescue. She’s 5 Weeks Old With Development Of A 3 Week Old . She Was Also The Runt Of The Litter

Our Little Rescue. She’s 5 Weeks Old With Development Of A 3 Week Old . She Was Also The Runt Of The Litter

mollysinz Report

#31

My Life Has Become So Much Brighter Since I Adopted Sofi

My Life Has Become So Much Brighter Since I Adopted Sofi

FiveOhFive91 Report

#32

I Can't Believe You Adopted Us Both! Happiness Will Rule After The Shock Wears Off

I Can't Believe You Adopted Us Both! Happiness Will Rule After The Shock Wears Off

Kimmer2022 Report

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Shyla Bouche
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I told you I wanted a friend, I meant a mousie filled with nip!

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#33

He Was A Stray I Found Outside Our House, And I Fed Him. A Little While Later, He Dozed Off On My Lap. I Decided To Adopt This Tiny Fella

He Was A Stray I Found Outside Our House, And I Fed Him. A Little While Later, He Dozed Off On My Lap. I Decided To Adopt This Tiny Fella

ingarobs Report

#34

My 4 Rescues

My 4 Rescues

FirstAd4471 Report

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Deborah Harris2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a stunning pack of house hippos ready to give sloppy kisses to their new bebe hooman xx

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sturmwesen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to love those ears. I call those cheek-pinchers (staffi, pitti, rotti...I want to squich and pinch their adorable cheeks)

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tara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww and that cutie in the front even put their phone down to get their pic taken!

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Dennis Stanley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*exasperated mom* "Can you please put your phone down for *one* second?"

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Shoto Todoroki
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at these sweet beautiful pibbles! All good boys & girls. And thanks so much for adopting the three legged good boy. I love pitties, I have a nine year old pitbull

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Rannveig Ess
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The looks you get when yo uwalk into a pub or restaurant, and just the Local Old Guys are sitting there

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mrsmir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s a pack of pits. And they clearly have an infant. This is concerning 😕

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#35

This Is My Sweet Foster That I Ended Up Adopting

This Is My Sweet Foster That I Ended Up Adopting

She was found starving with her siblings in a container at a week old. What color and pattern is her coat? She is now 2.5 months old and seems to me like a snowshoe/tabby to me because she has white boots and stripes

linichi62 Report

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tara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know how anyone could leave an animal to starve. What a BEAUTIFUL cat! What crazy person wouldn't be enchanted by that pretty face!?!

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#36

This Is Piper. She Showed Up On My Aunt’s Property And Decided To Adopt Us. I Stopped By To See My Aunt And Gave This Girl Some Head Massage. She Passed Out Like That

This Is Piper. She Showed Up On My Aunt’s Property And Decided To Adopt Us. I Stopped By To See My Aunt And Gave This Girl Some Head Massage. She Passed Out Like That

DSEnMe Report

#37

Just Adopted This Fluffy Old Lady With A Little White Mustache!

Just Adopted This Fluffy Old Lady With A Little White Mustache!

Chandra_Nalaar Report

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Sergy Yeltsen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's beautiful. That moustache... and those whiskers! May you have many years with her.

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#39

Adoption Day For Our New Sic!

Adoption Day For Our New Sic!

sami_claire Report

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those who may not know: "SIC" is internet jargon for "Standard Issue Cat"! It means brown tabbies like the kitty in the photo. They are called generic/standard issue cats since it's the base color/markings for the wildcats that our domestic kitties descended from!

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#40

Can't Tell If I Adopted A Rabbit Or A Cat

Can't Tell If I Adopted A Rabbit Or A Cat

Southern_Solution_54 Report

#41

New Pup Rescued - This Is Rori!

New Pup Rescued - This Is Rori!

RedxPandaOSU Report

#42

I Finally Adopted My First Kitten. This Is Tofu And I Love Him So Much It Hurts

I Finally Adopted My First Kitten. This Is Tofu And I Love Him So Much It Hurts

Time2kill Report

#44

Oh Gosh I Rescued A Vampire! What Do I Do?!

Oh Gosh I Rescued A Vampire! What Do I Do?!

porklorneo Report

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A C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhhh!!! You've likely already been turned into a vampire yourself by now.... you may not even know it... so there is nothing to do now but love on the little vampire

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#45

I Adopted A Fur-Baby 2 Weeks Ago

I Adopted A Fur-Baby 2 Weeks Ago

salice93 Report

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#46

Today We Adopted Our Second Greyhound, Lily. I Think Her And Hank Will Get Along Just Fine

Today We Adopted Our Second Greyhound, Lily. I Think Her And Hank Will Get Along Just Fine

Mstngairplane Report

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Deborah Harris2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She'll soon be bossing him around and using him as a cushion, brindle boys have the best personalities xx

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#47

Officially Adopted Our New Baby & Brought Him Home Today!! He's So Excited To Be Home & Such A Sweetheart

Officially Adopted Our New Baby & Brought Him Home Today!! He's So Excited To Be Home & Such A Sweetheart

Rainyx420 Report

#48

Thought I Should Share My 4 Recently Adopted Babies

Thought I Should Share My 4 Recently Adopted Babies

Bearchiwuawa Report

#49

Our Sic We Rescued A Month Ago. Named Her Maybelline. “Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s Maybelline.”

Our Sic We Rescued A Month Ago. Named Her Maybelline. “Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s Maybelline.”

ladyvont321 Report

#50

Detained With The Evidence Still On His Face!

Detained With The Evidence Still On His Face!

Our first rescue bottle baby ♡ approx 2.5 - 3 weeks old

SAJ88 Report

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tara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am soooo jealous! I had the fortunate opportunity to raise bottle babies too! One set was only a day old. I am quite literally their mother, and always will be <3 Feeding every few hours, hot water bottles and blankets, poopy bums and bubble baths.... I would do it a million times again!

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Note: this post originally had 105 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.