If there's one thing young people are doing right, it's pet ownership. Because Gen Z is delaying parenthood, more become pet parents instead. In fact, seven in 10 Gen Z adults say they'd rather have a pet than a child. They're also almost twice as likely as other generations to adopt instead of shop.
Loads of different pets get adopted each month, and we here at Bored Panda have a tradition of sharing the cutest animals that found their forever home every month. This January, we've got a collection from proud pet owners who rescued, adopted from a shelter, or inherited a pet that's now their best friend for life.
#1 I Adopted A 20 Year Old Cat Today, My Oldest Animal Ever. Say Hello To Donut!
Image credits: JeSuisRongeur
#2 Meet Our New Girl, Billie Eyeless
Image credits: DukesUp
#3 My Three-Footed Void Named Buck
Image credits: Due-Difference-5503
Those who adopt their pets from shelters are really doing great work. It might seem that rescue animals have never been so popular, but animal shelters are still overcrowded and the rescue dog and cat populations, unfortunately, have never been higher.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), somewhere around 6.5 million enter shelters each year. Out of those, only 4.1 million get adopted (around 2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats). Those who don't find their forever home either are euthanized, pass away from illnesses or old age, or keep waiting their turn for years to come.
#4 Adopt Don’t Shop
Image credits: Necessary_Article_83
#5 Rescued A Puppy During My Route And Brought Him Home In A Tote
Image credits: Exact-Kitchen4436
#6 I Get To Spend His Whole Life With Him :)
Image credits: JMarieSimz34
But wait, aren't there shelters that don't euthanize their animals and let them live out their lives until old age even if they don't get adopted? Of course, there are, and two states, Delaware and New Hampshire, have laws stating that all their shelters have to save the animals that enter them.
However, if we look at the broader picture, many animals still meet their end even in shelters. In 2023, for example, shelters all over the U.S. euthanized around 690,000 dogs and cats. In 2024, a part-timer from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society shelter wrote that sometimes, owners request euthanasia. Other times, it's inevitable due to behavioral problems or sickness and injury.
#7 Just Adopted This Cutie Today!
Image credits: One-Ebb1273
#8 Not Sure What Kinda Dog He Is But Meet Pawl, Recently Got Him From The Shelter (:
Image credits: Danyilgerman99
#9 Ruby Twosday
Image credits: believe_in_dog
Nearly one in five Americans adopted a pet during the pandemic, and, for quite a while, there was a myth floating around that many of those pets were returned to shelters after the lockdown was over. In a 2021 study, researchers explained that more dogs and cats returned to shelters than during economically stable times. It's important to note they concluded that "pets were not being rehomed in massive numbers."
#10 Bonded Baby Boys
Image credits: No-Painting-7620
#11 Adopting This Perfect Girl
Image credits: Catgroove93
#12 My 10 Year Old Lady 🖤
Image credits: Melodic-Salt-298
Some people were no longer able to take good care of the pets they picked up from the shelter during the pandemic. Many lost their jobs and faced other financial difficulties, and some pet owners may be hesitant to say why they're relinquishing their pet out of shame or fear of being judged.
#13 Baby Nyx
Image credits: gizdys
#14 Found My Recently Adopted Cat Buried In My Stuffed Animals
Image credits: addira3
#15 My Hammy Boi
Image credits: Sorry_Thanks_2409
SE Smith from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society lists the complex reasons why more people are giving up their pets. "It's gotten harder to access and afford vet care, while emergency extensions of the social safety net, including increased Snap benefits, expansions to Medicaid, childcare assistance, the student loan pause, the child tax credit and generous unemployment insurance benefits have come to an end, leaving people in financial precarity that hurts pets too."
#16 Adopted This Girl
Image credits: Neko-brains
#17 Rosie
Image credits: MeasurementSame9553
#18 My Girlfriend Wanted To Adopt A Cat, I Didn't Want To
Image credits: JJFrank1eJJ
How can we combat the overcrowding of animal shelters? Most advocates say that spaying/neutering pets is the most important step. Whether done by individual pet owners or at animal shelters (which rarely have the resources for that), it's the best way to prevent the populations of dogs and cats from getting out of control.
#19 My New Bestie
Image credits: leesalogic
#20 Pepper Wants To Thank You People For Helping Out With His Foster Bills
Image credits: Chuphojaabhai
#21 Mr Kitty Has Adopted Us. He Used To Be Our Neighbor's Barn Cat Until Some Stray Dogs Ran Him Off. They Had Him Since He Was A Kitten. He's 18!
Image credits: WeighTheSameAsADuck
According to the Kansas Humane Society, spaying and neutering was an elective procedure during the pandemic. Its CEO Cemily Hurst said, "While we're already living on the brink of overpopulation, nothing was getting spayed and neutered for a little over a year and a half I think, so now we're seeing the results of that." This resulted in a 30%-40% increase in domestic animals.
#22 Adopted By Former Resident Of Cat Distribution Center
Image credits: Godless_Bitch
#23 Just Adopted This Sweetheart
Image credits: ParkHoppingHerbivore
#24 I Took Reddit’s Advice And It Was The Best Decision
Image credits: SnooChipmunks2673
The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals also encourages owners not to intentionally breed their pets. "Every puppy or kitten sold or given away by an owner that breeds their pet means there is one more shelter animal that will not find a home," they write. There are enough animals in the country (and the world!) who already need homes.
#25 This Is Miss Hebe
Image credits: Wrinkul
#26 Just Adopted
Image credits: lolidk80
#27 My Mammoth And I’s First Home!!
Image credits: ok-thatsnice
If you already have a pet, commit to them for life. Ideally, plan the finances and the logistics of owning a pet before you get one. Then, be sure they will be taken care of if something happens to you, the owner. A new home for a pet should mean a forever home, so, make sure that your new pet is your life companion!
#28 What Did We Adopt Today?
Image credits: su35mmer
#29 New Rescue
Image credits: Ok-Bad-6301
#30 We Recently Adopted This Dog And Just Can't Find A Name That We Feel Suits Him Well. Anyone Have Any Ideas For A Good Name For Him?
Image credits: lazrkk
Doesn't seeing so many cute newly adopted pets make you want to visit a shelter, Pandas? If only to hang out with the good boys and girls who are waiting for their new owners, walk them, play with them, or bring them some delicious snacks. Let us know in the comments if you like to volunteer at your local animal shelter and what you like best about it. And don't forget to share the pics of your adorable rescues as well!
#31 Boyfriend Adopted A Dog And I'm Officially Obsessed
Image credits: Important-String1514
#32 Meet My New Cat :) My First Void
Image credits: lesqueebeee
#33 When The Shelter Cat You Spontaneously Adopted Turns Out To Be Rare
Image credits: Majestic_Clock9790
#34 I Adopted This Little Dog From A K**l Shelter, Where He Was On The Euthanasia List
Image credits: MadKat2
#35 Meet Lumbee
Image credits: emily_jn
#36 I Have An Older Cat Who Adopted A Younger Girl As Her Daughter
Image credits: Nutter222
#37 My Sweet Girl Cutie
Image credits: brystle
#38 Just Adopted My First Cat!
Image credits: Budget-Aioli-3254
#39 Adopted From Sc! 11 Week Old Girl. Found Abandoned. Names? 🥰
Image credits: Sea-Travel-7722
#40 My Newly Adopted Cat
Image credits: lunalillyys
#41 First Cat Adopted From Our Shelter In 2025. Picasso!
Image credits: sonia72quebec
#42 Did I Adopt A Dog Or A Fox?
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#43 We Adopted A Dog
Image credits: crochetwhore
#44 Just Adopted This 14.5 Year Old Last Night, What Is The Best Food For A Senior Cat?
Image credits: tri-sarah-tops99
#45 8 Years Living In The Street. Finally Adopted And Moved Indoors
Image credits: Ross_Phd
#46 My Newly Rescued Baby: Steve Or Truman
Image credits: JumpinJackFat
#47 First Time Puppy Owner
Image credits: ShortPeak4860
#48 Recently Adopted A Senior Dog
Image credits: CursedGremlin
#49 First Time Owner!
Image credits: Prior-Kiwi4432
#50 Meet My 4 Months Calico, Mozza!
Image credits: Visible_Dimension_65
#51 Any Cat Introduction Success Stories? I Just Adopted A Kitten
Image credits: Hefty-Insect7749
#52 Introducing Lavender
Image credits: Competitive-Jelly306
#53 Go Out And Adopt Today!!
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#54 Adopted This Rescue
Image credits: Zestyclose-Jacket498
#55 We Just Adopted A Russian Stray Dog, Any Guesses?
Image credits: LilyTheBug
#56 Adopted My Void’s Sister After Thinking About Her For 2 Months
Image credits: hilaryfayesvan
#57 Third Cat That Has Been Distributed To Me!
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#58 Just Adopted A 7 Month Old Lady🐱
Image credits: sam_jones92
#59 New Years Beagle Rescue
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#60 Dream To Reality
Image credits: Legitimate_Shade
#61 I Adopted An Orange Cat From A Shelter A Week Ago And I’m In Love. He’s 3 Years Old
Image credits: Dear_Somewhere_409
#62 Welcome, Our New Member Of The Family
Image credits: Glum_Warthog0961
#63 My Parents Adopted My Foster Dog- We’re Awaiting DNA Test Results
Image credits: Porquoipaz
#64 My First Ever Cat!
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#65 Help Me Name My Cat! Adopted Her A Couple Days Ago And She’s Super Super Affectionate But I’m Stuck On What To Call Her!
Image credits: millionsofgoats
#66 We Adopted The Girl, Our First Pyrenees
Image credits: D-Rick
#67 Adopted These Beautiful Sisters Right Before Thanksgiving
Image credits: eyegocrazy
#68 New Foster Dog, Waymo!
Image credits: Abner_Dabner
#69 I Just Adopted Two Tuxie Girls!
Image credits: DeadDandelion17
#70 My Neighbor Found This Sweet Pup In A Trash Can And I Just Adopted Her. Anyone Know What Kind Of Dog She Is?
Image credits: West_Exercise5142
#71 Me And My Girlfriend Have Just Adopted Our First Cat
Image credits: PhilleMan99
#72 Just Adopted May
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#73 Brought Home Our New Guy, Sushi, But He Is Absolutely Terrified And Won’t Come Out
Image credits: SubpoenaaColadaa
#74 Finally Able To Adopt My First Cat! Meet Aurora
Image credits: BelConiglietto
#75 New Family Member ❤️
Image credits: silk_gerri
#76 My Latest Foster Dog Sellen
Image credits: HisMomm
#77 Meet Scooter!!
Image credits: Constant_Welcome2107
#78 My Boyfriend Adopted A Dog! Help With A New Name! A New Beginning!
Image credits: vikikuki
#79 2 Rescues Adopted. The Most Beautiful Thing To Ever Happen To Me
Image credits: Mr-IGoRaw
#80 You Can't Buy Love, But You Can Rescue It. #puppy
Image credits: Initial_Depth_9776
#81 Adopted My First Dog
Image credits: DrOkayest
#82 My Romanian Girl
Image credits: LivelyUnicorn
#83 This Is Mabel
Image credits: SoumaNeko
#84 Just Adopted!
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#85 Our New Shelter Dog
Image credits: saltysarah13
#86 Reflecting The Decision To Adopt Bunni
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#87 Found A Super Cute Border Collie Mix At My Shelter
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#88 I Present To You, My Very Buff Galgo
Image credits: AFC_Darko
