How Shelter Dogs Look When They Get Adopted

We can all agree that animal shelters are not any animal’s favorite place to live. Just look at the animals’ faces in shelters. Or the many animal movies made throughout the years. Animal shelters are crowded and unclean. No wonder every animal looks forward to the day they get adopted. There comes a time when they finally get to leave this horrible place. Maybe a time when a human friend comes through the door. This is when dreams come true. The furry friend finally finds their forever home. And the moment when this happens is truly magical. Read ahead to learn about the happiness of these dogs the second they get adopted.

The Ride Home

Being in an animal shelter is no fun. The dog is stuck in a cage with several other dogs. Someone is barking or growling most of the time. Plus, the lack of attention and affection is a huge bummer. But the second they are adopted, things change for the better. By the looks of it, this little doggo knows this is exactly what is awaiting them.

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In this selfie, this pup is perched upon his new human’s shoulders. A picture full of smiles holds the promise of many adventures, cuddles, and freedom. You can already tell they are going to have a solid bonding.

Smile Wide

What is the universal sign of being happy? A smile, of course! The wider the smile, the happier you are. The broad smile on this good boy just goes to show how glad he is to get out of the shelter to his new home finally. We are pretty sure if he could, this furry friend would have danced to Pharrell William’s song ‘Happy.’

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The peace and happiness behind his heart-wrenchingly sweet smile simply melt our hearts. Tucked into his new human’s arms, the doggo is all ready to live his best life. And why not? He knows it is going to be filled with making unforgettable memories.

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Right In Time

There are many things wrong with animal shelters—overcrowding, mistreatment, and dirt. The problem with overcrowding is that the animals are put down to make space a lot of the time. This would have been the fate of Scarlett the dog had she not been adopted by this compassionate family.

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Scarlett had a mild skin condition that would scare off visitors. Her condition is what put her on the list of being put down. Thankfully, as it turns out, her disease was curable. She is all the better after her new family took care of the matter. You can tell how happy she is now just by looking at her face.

Perfect Energy

The most common thing between friends is their level of energy. We bet you and your best friend are on the same wavelength when it comes to your energy levels. This is the case for this adorable human and dog duo. Upon looking at the picture, we can not decide who looks happier.

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According to the new owner of this cute doggo, this photo was taken when he met the dog for the first time. Looking at both of their glee, we can tell this is just the beginning of their extraordinary friendship. What we love is how perfectly their energies match.

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Bittersweet Departure

Sometimes being adopted can be a bittersweet experience. While the doggo has a better future ahead of them, they still have to leave their old life behind. This includes all the friends and memories they have made at the pound. This picture of two dogs captures the sentiment perfectly.

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When the little dog realized that only he was being adopted and it was time for him to leave, he couldn’t help but be a little sad. In this heartbreaking picture, the dog is seen resting his paw on the other dog’s head. At least they are both destined for happiness.

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Chonky Doggo

From one bittersweet story to another – this beagle had a sad beginning as she was abandoned by her previous owners. On top of being super old, this sweet beagle was severely overweight. So her owners left her on her own in this cruel world. The sad doggo waited for her old family to come back and take her home for days on end. But sadly, that day did not come.

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However, things turned up for the beagle when a human stopped by her animal shelter. The old dog did not know the human – he wasn’t someone from his old family. But the human wanted to see the dog and build a bond. And the rest is history.

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Military Mutt

There is a reason why dogs are called man’s best friend. They have the power to provide you with support and affection, no matter what. In addition, because of the therapeutic effects pet cuddles and licks possess, they are used to help people deal with emotional challenges. As such, many military bases have pet adoption events set up.

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Pet events at military bases are super convenient as the soldiers spend so much time there. This staff sergeant fell in love with an English bulldog on one such occasion. Named Pinkerton, this adorable dog seems to be the perfect companion. We are excited about all the future adventures and passion.

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Cuddle Buddy

All dogs are precious regardless of their size. However, there is something about big dogs. According to research conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, about 50% of canines spend their day sleeping. It is around 12 to 14 hours each day if you calculate it! While this might seem like an absurdly long time spent sleeping, it is mainly done while humans are away.

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However, the long sleep time does not mean that cuddles can not be sneaked in here and there. This little girl is seen having a peaceful nap while snuggly with her furry friend. She has left her own bed and joined the dog on her own.

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A Pack Of Four

Living by yourself can be super sad. Adopting a pet means that you have a forever companion. No more feeling alone. And the more pets, the merrier. In this case, the more the paws, the better. This group of senior chihuahuas got adopted and now live together. By looking at their toothless smiles and floppy tongues, you can tell that this was a dream come true.

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You can already tell it is harder for older dogs to get adopted, especially with so many cute puppies around them. So this was a pleasant surprise when this group of senior boys was chosen to live together.

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Fluffy Baby

Everyone loves a furry animal. However, there are also others who can’t seem to keep their hands off when they see a fluffy dog. The new owners of this white floofball were the exact same. This is why when the couple saw this little pup, they simply couldn’t resist and took him home. Honestly, if we were in their shoes, we would have done the same.

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You can spot their perfect family portrait in a selfie taken on the ride home. You can tell just by looking at their smiles how happy they are to step into their new life – a life that holds promises of cuddles, adventures, and a lot of love.

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You Can Lean On Me

A lot of the time, people say adopting a dog is like finding your missing piece. They come into your life, and everything just falls into place. It seems like this is how things were meant to be from the very beginning. This girl decided to bring this doggie home, and it seemed like they were made for each other.

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Just like how a pup was missing from this woman’s life, the feeling was mutual for the dog as well. After being adopted from the pound, she leaned her head on the human’s shoulder the entire journey. Maybe it’s her way of thanking her.

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Italian Family

A lot can be said about Italians. But what we love the most about Italians is how accepting they are of people. Once close, they will make anyone a part of their family. The same thing happened to this miniature bull terrier once he was adopted. Named Rodrigo, he is an absolute delight to be around.

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The photo was taken while he was on his first drive home. Maybe it is his heart-melting grin or his successful rescue story, but Rodrigo now has over ten thousand followers on social media. He now spends more time traveling with his new family in the car.

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Puppy Present

We all like to get good gifts, regardless of the occasion. Whether you receive the gift or give something to yourself, it does not matter. With this intention in mind, this man took it upon himself to give himself a present. So, he drove to the animal shelter for the holiday season and adopted a little pup.

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Just as luck would have it, the little puppy is equally in love with his new human. In this picture taken on the ride back home, the little one looks up at his dad. We can confidently say puppies are the best present.

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Donuts

Some might say Donuts is an odd name for a dog. But we think otherwise. For us, the name Donuts for this former shelter dog fits perfectly. If only having a sweet name meant that the doggo had a precious life. On top of being old, Donuts was blind and deaf. To make things worse, he was also battling cancer. All these factors made adopting him a tricky task.

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Just like a superhero without a cape, when Matt visited the pound, he fell in love with Donuts, the dog. It is like they were destined to meet because Matt was the perfect caretaker for him.

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Luna In Love

Some people prefer designer dogs over shelter dogs. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, there is just something about shelter dogs. Maybe because they have experienced so much, but shelter dogs appreciate things more than others, just like rescue pup Luna, whose body radiates nothing but appreciation.

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This picture was snapped when Luna was on her way to her new home. Cuddling with her rescuer, this doggo is the perfect image of how it is worth adopting from shelters. Luna seems to be glad to leave her cold and lonely cage behind. Now it is all about cuddles, good food, and fun adventures.

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The World Of Coso

Life is full of surprises. Some are good surprises, others not so much. But what do we do when life blesses us with something that is too good to be true? We can’t help but jump around a little in excitement, right? Coso, the former shelter dog, does the same. This little fellow was a little too excited while leaving the building that he couldn’t help but jump in joy with his paws in the air.

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Our pet dogs might not be our whole life, but they do make our lives whole. Given how much joy Coso brings, we are sure he will make his new family’s life complete.

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Cuddles

We have already seen dogs get super excited when they realize that they have left their cold, lonely cages at the pound for good. They don’t have to go back there. When this realization kicks in, our furry friends can’t seem to contain their happiness. This photo was taken when Rosie finally understood where she was after the mysterious car ride. And her expression is priceless.

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Seen on Mom’s lap, Rosie, the good girl, is cuddling with a huge smile on her face. Given how much she enjoys the attention, we bet there are more cuddles in store for the future.

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Wiggles Wish

By looking at the picture of Wiggles, you can’t ever tell how difficult her life was. Wiggles spent a good chunk of a decade at the animal shelter full of ups and downs. Finally, at 14 years old, her wish was fulfilled when she was adopted into a new family.

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Her adoption was indeed a surprise. She did not get along with other dogs at the shelter and then recently developed a cancerous tumor. Things were tough for her in terms of health and companionship. This is why when things worked out for her this time around, she couldn’t help but give us the biggest smile.

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A Couple Of Old Friends

Getting old comes with its challenges – health complications, losing loved ones, and so much more. This is when having a pet can come in handy. Not only do you have a companion living with you all the time for when you feel lonely, but someone to take care of other than yourself—as such, adopting this cutie pie was the perfect decision for this sweet older lady.

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The lady and the dog meeting seems like destiny. She found this cutie at a special adoption fair at her neighborhood park. And the minute she saw her, there was no way the lady could leave without taking the doggie home.

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No More Cages

Leaving dogs in cages seems like a cruel thing to do. Dogs are generally high-energy animals who like to play and run around. Being stuck inside a cage means that there is no way for them to get the excess energy out. The lack of workouts leaves them unable to relax and calm down.

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This pooch spent all of his time inside a cage. So when he was finally free, you could tell he was more than excited to run wild and free. Patiently sitting on his pink towel on the ride home, this good boy has already learned how to be patient.

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Anything For Pablo To Perk Up

Many times shelter dogs have a sad backstory. They are dropped off by their previous owners, who are unable to take care of the dogs anymore. This leaves the helpless animals wandering the streets alone, facing who knows what situation. This was the case for little Pablo before he settled into his caged life. Scared and scruffy, Pablo looked so sad.

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But as luck would have it, things turned out for the better for our little Pablo. After one family spotted this good boy, he was immediately adopted into a warm and cozy home. Not only does he get food, but there is also love, affection, and so much in store for him.

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Years Caged

We have already talked about what spending their time stuck inside a cage means for a dog. It is detrimental to their mental and physical health mainly because there is no one to keep them company. And to think there were many dogs who spent years in a cage makes us feel super sad. However, we are glad that these dogs aren’t put down by the facility. But it also means that the dogs are left to be miserable on their own.

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After spending 1,100 days in a cage, a foster family came through for Capone the canine. It seems like his patience paid off as the family ended up adopting him.

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Pearly Whites

Dogs know when it is time for them to leave the pound. And when that time finally comes for them, there is no way they can hide their happiness. Some jump around in excitement, while others smile so wide that you can’t help but smile back at them. Their happiness is that radiant.

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When it was paperwork day, this dog, who has a human-sounding name, was more than elated. Doggo Alex Watson’s toothy grin in every picture was everything. To make things more adorable, his new mom was seen sporting a similar smile with her pearly whites out. Guess sometimes owners do end up looking like their pets.

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Double Trouble

A lot of the time, dogs end up being friends with other dogs while at the shelter. However, when they get adopted, there is nothing to do but leave their friends behind at the pound. Luckily, this dog got adopted by his best friend. Their faces before and after the adoption are everything.

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While taking their first trip in the car together, the dogs are seen grinning so wide our hearts melted. We can tell they are excited about all the road trips they are going to go on in the future: double the trouble and double the fun of having two dogs together.

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Oh That Smile

A dog lover once said that if there is one thing on this earth that will love you more than you love yourself, it is a dog. And they could not have been more correct. Dogs will do anything to show you how grateful they are for your existence. Unfortunately, this pooch had difficulty showing his gratitude while being locked away in his cage. Thankfully this fate did not last long.

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In a photo taken after he was adopted, this good little boy is seen sporting a toothy smile. Life changes for the better when there is a human to hug and hold.

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A Chance For Chance

There are moments in your life when you just know what you want. We are sure you, too, have felt this at some point or another. This is what happened to this dog named Chance. When Chance knew that this was precisely the owner and the family he wanted to get adopted into, he took the first step. Chance the dog simply walked over to his new owner and sat on his lap.

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Chance could not have been more clear about what he wanted. What happened after is history. Chance and his new dad now live happily together. Their meeting is pure destiny.

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Frank The Tank

Sometimes dogs have to wait for a long time before they are adopted. Many times the reason behind their delayed adoption is obvious. However, we could not believe why this sweet little monster did not get adopted for what seemed like an eternity. Just look at his face; it only begs for snuggles.

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The adoption center knew that this bulldog was meant to be adopted. This is why they posted an ad online, and as you would have it, responses came rolling in. Finally, the Internet brought him his perfect family, who named him Frank the Tank. There is only grinning from here on.

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Perfect Puppy Eyes

No one can ever resist puppy eyes. They are so cute and innocent; your heart is bound to melt. So we understand why Tucker the puppy was scooped up the second his new family spotted him. By the looks of his face in the cage, his previous life lacked love and pampering. But, lucky for him, his new life seems to be looking up.

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When you look at Tucker’s picture after he was adopted smiling, all collared up in his own couch, you can tell he is finally living the good life. Plus, his puppy eyes seem to have a new shine to them.

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What A Week

Whenever we hear stories of animal abuse, our hearts break a little. This good boy had a tough life coming from a bad house. You can tell just by looking at him how traumatized he was. Skinny to the bones without a trace of a smile, the people at the shelter knew things needed to change for him.

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After publicizing his case on social media, a foster family came to the rescue. Only a week after spending time with his new family, he perked up. On his online update, his new name was revealed. Fluffycus Augustus Maximus Rex. At least they are still working on the name.

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Luna, the dog, probably has more followers than humans. And why not? She is an absolute delight to look at. A mix between an Australian Shepherd and Border Collie, Luna has more than 1,400 followers on social media.

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This picture was posted on her social media account on her one-year rescue anniversary. By reading the caption, you can tell how lucky her new family is to have her in their life. We are sure Luna is equally glad to have them. Just look at how much at peace she seems.