#2 I Got A Cat For My Dog After She Got Anxiety After An Incident And They Became Instant Soulmates
If there’s one thing that rivals looking at adorable animal photos, it’s spending time with them in person. Sonia, a dedicated volunteer at Adoption Chats Sans Abri (ACSA), a cat shelter in Canada, knows this joy firsthand. Regularly involved at the shelter, she also shares snapshots of the cats she cares for on Reddit. Bored Panda got in touch with Sonia to learn more about her experiences.
After moving back to Quebec City, where ACSA is located, Sonia felt a pull to help out. “I walked in front of the shelter a couple of times before finally deciding to step in and volunteer,” she explains. “Now, I’m usually there twice a week. It’s really good for my self-esteem. It’s also hard to feel depressed when you’re in a room full of kittens.”
#4 I Found This Kitten Near A Convenience Store. She Follows Me Everywhere I Go, So I've Decided To Bring Her Home. I Asked The Clerk If Anyone Owns Her And They Said No One Does
Since 1996, ACSA has been caring for stray and abandoned cats, helping them find forever homes. They pride themselves on being an ethical shelter, only resorting to euthanasia in cases of severe medical issues. Their mission extends beyond care, aiming to raise awareness about responsible adoption and the importance of sterilization.
#6 This Is Judy. She Or He Comes To My Kitchen Window Every Day To Get Some Almonds. I Love Her Or Him So Much. That Little Smile Makes Me Melt
Sonia frequently updates social media on the progress of the cats under ACSAās care. Her photos feature kitties getting plenty of pets, receiving treatments, and playfully roaming the shelter. āWe specialize in feral cats, and people love seeing their transformation on Facebook, so I started sharing them here on Reddit,ā she says. āThe feedback has been amazing, so I try to post each day.ā
#9 This Service Dog Received His Masterās Degree In Occupational Therapy From Clarkson University After Attending Every Single Class With His Human
#10 My Boy When Asking For Treats. How Could I Resist That Adorable Smile?
āThere are so many cats in shelters. I donāt understand why people would intentionally breed more cats just because they look a certain wayā Sonia points out. āAdoption is the way to goāyou donāt ābuyā a cat. Yes, thereās a fee, but it hardly covers the costs weāve put into caring for each one.ā
#11 Mojo Turns 20 In A Few Months, And The Transformation To Silver Fox Is Almost Complete
#13 My Dog Beau Finishing His Final Chemo Yesterday. This Is How He Came Out The Vet's Office
Sadly, while adopting from shelters is widely considered the ethical choice, many shelters are facing a crisis. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, adoption rates soared as people sought companionship during lockdowns. Some shelters even emptied out as animals were adopted at record rates. But that wave of enthusiasm was short-lived, and shelters are now overwhelmed again as more animals come in than go out.
#14 Adopted This Dude A Month Ago And He Wonāt Stop Staring At Me
#15 Precious - 1 Year After Her Rise To Fame. Still Making This Face After Losing Her Top 2 Canine Teeth
In the U.S., during 2020, when adoption rates spiked, 2% more animals left shelters than arrived, according to Shelter Animals Count. However, by 2021, that figure reversedā2% more animals entered shelters than left. In 2022, the gap widened to 4%. While that may not seem like much, each percentage point represents tens of thousands of animals.
#17 Fell Asleep With My Hand Out Like This And Woke Up To Her Hugging It
#19 One Of My First Pictures Of My Rat, Crescent, vs. A More Recent One. She Still Has The Cutest Face
Shelters have become overcrowded, partly because of lifestyle changes that came with the end of lockdowns. Pets who spent months indoors with their owners around suddenly had to adjust when people returned to their normal routines outside the house. This stress led to behavioral issues that many struggled to manage. For instance, dog owners reported challenges as their pets adapted to being left alone or reintroduced to public spaces. As a result, some decided to return their pets to shelters.
