There are few things on this planet cuter than a puppy. Their soft, squishy faces, huge eyes and fluffy fur can melt my heart into a puddle faster than anything else. But because puppies often get the most attention, it’s easy to forget how adorable older doggos can be too. So today, we’re celebrating both ends of the spectrum!
Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find heartwarming before and after pics of dogs as puppies and all grown up, so prepare yourself for a cuteness overload down below. Keep reading to also find a chat with the team at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, and be sure to upvote the dogs that you would love to have as members of your family!
If you’ve ever owned a dog, I don’t need to tell you what a lifechanging experience it can be. These precious creatures are called man’s best friend for a reason, after all! They’re intelligent, loving, adorable animals who can form incredibly strong bonds with their owners. So it’s no surprise that dogs are the most popular pets in the world, residing in about a third of the world’s households.
To learn more about why dogs make such great companions, we reached out to the team at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in Arlington, Virginia. “Dogs make wonderful pets for so many reasons,” they shared. “From giving you the motivation to get out of bed in the morning, to sharing unconditional love, to always being by your side through all of life’s twists and turns, there is no animal as loving or as loyal as a dog.”
We also asked the Lucky Dog team if they could explain why it’s so important to adopt rather than shop when bringing a new dog into your family. “There are so many animals dying daily in shelters that there really isn’t a good reason to buy from a breeder instead of adopting,” they explained.
“Rescues have all sorts of sizes, ages, personalities, etc. — anything an adopter could wish for. There are even breed specific rescues that focus on particular breeds,” the dog experts added. “The more that people adopt, the less demand there will be for breeders — and the more lives will be saved!”
And as far as what potential adopters should understand before welcoming a doggo into their lives, the Lucky Dog team says, “People should know that dogs are living beings who deserve to receive the same effort, love, training and commitment that they will offer you. They will have an adjustment period just like you, and in the end everything will be worth it. If you are unsure of what type of dog is best to adopt, we would be happy to help you find a good fit.”
For a previous Bored Panda article featuring adorable adopted dogs, we got in touch with Ivanka Patterson, director of Every Dog Matters EU. Ivanka also shared her thoughts on why adoption is so important when bringing a new pet into the family. “A lot of breed dogs come from illegal puppy mills where the dogs and the puppies are living in very poor conditions. Not knowing the origin of your bought pups hides the huge risk of getting an overbred pup which will have genetic health issues and a shorter life span,” she explained.
Ivanka also detailed the benefits dog owners can experience after welcoming a rescue into their homes. “We believe there is hidden superhero in each one of us,” she shared. “By adopting a rescue animal, this super hero comes to life and the feeling of worthiness within oneself improves greatly ones self-esteem.”
When it comes to what potential adopters should understand, Ivanka shared, “They should know that, before everything, the dog is a responsibility. An adopter should really think well if in their current lifestyle there is a room for a pet and if yes, what exactly having one will entail. And once again, patience. A lot of people think the dog will immediately love their new life, the moment it steps into their new home. That the dog will immediately trust their adopter and will bond and start playing form the get go. Would you immediately trust a stranger?”
“If you have decided to adopt a dog really think it through and chose the dog with temperament and character that will fit best your lifestyle in order to have a true best friend,” Ivanka added. “Have realistic expectations from your adopted dog, be patient with it and show it it can trust you 100%. Then and only then you will really have a true, joyful, obedient and forever four-legged best friend. And trust me, every single effort is so worth it!”
