23 Dog Adoption Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

    There are two kinds of people: those who have adopted a dog and those who haven't adopted a dog YET.

    Alex Naidus
    by Alex Naidus

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community for before-and-after pictures of their rescued dogs. Some of the photos — and stories — below come from their submissions.

    1. Lacey

    buzzfeed.com

    "This is Lacey! We adopted her in 2014 from an open admissions shelter. After taking her to the vet, we discovered that she had severe pneumonia and was very, very sick. The vet was unsure if she would get better, but encouraged us to try treatment and see. After a week of hospitalization she was better! She is now the most active, happy dog. She loves life." —messofjesss

    2. Shadow

    buzzfeed.com

    "I rescued my pom Shadow in 2010 when he was about three. He was scared of almost everything and cringed whenever my husband or I moved too fast or made loud noise. He had lost most of his hair due to mange and was infested with fleas. Six years later, he is a healthy boy with plenty of (graying) fur and has been dubbed Prince Shadow for his high expectations of what he deserves in life! See him here on his pillow throne." —trucll

    3. Arnie

    buzzfeed.com

    "This is Arnie. We're not sure what exactly happened to him but he wouldn't walk for the first month we had him and would only stand for a few seconds if we picked him up. Our vet at the time thought he either had some brain damage or had lost the will to live. Based on what we were told, we believe he was left out during a couple of freezes during the first few months of his little life.

    "After two flea baths the first night we had to take him to the vet to rid him of the fleas and ticks. The first picture is him about a month after we got him. Flea free but still shut down. In the other picture, almost two years later, he was running circles around my husband in the yard and when I called him and got this happy little face. He now enjoys chasing his tail and playing with his food and trying to talk! He's a good boy and loves to hear it." —myklynd

    4. Remus

    buzzfeed.com

    "I got Remus four years ago from a shelter. He had been at that particular shelter for over six months and another one for many months before that. They had no idea of his background but think he had been in quite a few fights. They couldn't even give me an accurate age. They said no one wanted him and they were unsure if he would ever be adopted. I immediately took him home and after a month of transitioning he has been the most loyal, playful, and cuddly dog ever!" —oliviar48b7ce730

    6. Rhea

    buzzfeed.com

    "Rhea, originally named 'Nola,' was found in the woods behind a house with her five newborn puppies. When she tested positive for heartworm, the shelter staff knew they had a long road ahead of them. Time passed, and no one adopted her. An urgent emergency plea for a foster went out over Facebook, as she and her puppies were on the docket to be euthanized the next week. Her foster mom went to get her and her and her pups from the shelter on February 27, 2015.

    "On Sept. 7, 2015, I welcomed her into my home. The heartworm treatment was aggressive, but she pulled through just fine. Her puppies all have happy lives, and I'd like to think she has one, as well! Her favorite things to do are to play with her rubber pig, sleep on MY bed, watch Animal Planet, and car trips. Rhea is my absolute perfect match, and I couldn't ask for a better girl!" —micamoney

    7. Charlotte

    Kat Harper

    "Charlotte was found wandering around rural Indiana, skinny as a rake and missing half her fur due to fleas. She was obviously abused by her previous owners and still has a number of heartbreaking 'quirks' after two years of being spoiled rotten. She's the most perfect, well-behaved, sensitive dog I've ever owned. It took almost a full year but she looks fabulous now and you'd never guess the rough life she had before." —Kat Harper

    8. Bubby

    buzzfeed.com

    "When we got Bubby, he looked like a tiny, depressed, old man. He was the runt of the litter so his siblings would bully him, he had fleas, and he would cry all the time! We gave him all the love in the world and now he is a healthy young man!!! Love this guy." —julietfessel

    9. Liffey

    buzzfeed.com

    "We went to PetSmart one day to get cat food and the Lost Paws Rescue of Texas just happened to be there. My husband wanted to go take a look and I of course warned him it was only to look. Well, I walked over to find him, only to see this beautiful girl laying in a kennel looking so sad and lonely. I took one look at that face and said 'that's our new dog.' We've had Liffey now for five amazing years. She's the best girl and our fur baby. Our lives wouldn't be the same without her." —debrahyland

    10. Andie

    buzzfeed.com

    "We rescued Andie, a female lab/pointer mix, from the local SPCA in February 2014 when she was about a year old and only had a week left. She won our hearts the moment saw her there with her sad eyes and waggy tail. After being told that she was surrendered for 'being destructive in the home,' we decided to take a gamble and assume she was destructive because she wasn’t getting enough exercise (hello?? lab/pointer mix!!). My husband and I are both runners so she became our new partner.

    "Ultimately we did have to get a trash can with a locking lid but otherwise she is super well behaved now that she gets regular exercise, training and tons of love. :) The moral of the story is do your research on dog breeds before you take home a dog that isn’t appropriate for your lifestyle." —kimberlyryan130

    12. Sammy

    buzzfeed.com

    "This is a story of a rescue — not just that I rescued him but that he also rescued me.

    Sammy was found in a forest when he was one-year-old, emaciated and starving. Although the 'before' picture doesn't show it well, he was only 15 pounds when he should have been twice that amount. The shelter thought he was abandoned, because he wasn't wearing a collar or [have a] microchip when he was found. This is often the case with beagles — owners don't realize how much work they are and just let them go thinking they can survive on their own.

    "So at the age of 14, I adopted him. He changed my life completely. He is the only thing in my life that was constant — through changing schools, moving to a different continent, my father dying suddenly, and moving across the world again to attend university — Sammy has been there with me every step of the way. He's help me overcome depression and debilitating grief.

    "The 'after' picture says it all. He is now 9 years old, this photo was taken at my graduation. I had just found out that I got a scholarship to do a Master's degree in Animal Welfare. Sammy inspired me to dedicate my life to helping animals. So in a way, he's not only rescued me, but he's rescuing countless animals in the future too.

    "He's my best friend and I honestly don't know if I'd be here if it weren't for him!" —emman4df03ce13

    13. Gigi

    buzzfeed.com

    "Our sweet Gigi was rescued after a couple posted her on Craigslist. They knew she needed medical care for her severe allergies and were unwilling to take care of her. A veterinarian found her and we were placed with Gigi a few days later. She came to us practically baled but as soon as she walked into our home, she definitely knew this was going to be 'furever'! Gigi is now a happy dog with a shinny coat who knows she is loved and will always be taken care of. Rescuing her was the best thing to happen to us! We just love her! :0)" —mquin0216

    14. Cookie

    15. Grandpa

    buzzfeed.com

    "Grandpa was diverted from the open access shelter in Chicago thanks to a shelter intervention program. He was brought in by his previous owners to be euthanized because they could no longer afford his care. He had heart failure, and needs to have his abdomen drained every few weeks. (Each time he loses about 2–4 pounds of fluid!)

    "He's the happiest little dog ever. I've had him for about a month and a half, and he will be living with me until his heart condition causes pain or suffering. I highly recommend hospice fostering! He's an incredible dog, and it's such an honor to give him the best possible life in his golden years. Huge shoutout to everyone who helped rescue this sweet baby boy from euthanasia! He now gets to be surrounded by love everyday." —jkreines

    16. Luna

    buzzfeed.com

    "This is Luna, originally called Faith! Picture on the right is in December 2014, and on the left is December 2015.

    "Faith and her sister Hope had spent the first year of their lives locked in a cage on a breeder farm, and though rescue had come in time for Faith, Hope passed within the first week at the shelter. Faith had mange, bald patches around her eyes and belly, and ear mites. When we brought her home, she initially refused to eat, ignored everyone, and would hardly move from her pillow.

    "Thanks to much love and treats, she has grown into a confident and elegant little lady. Christmas will mark two years she has been with us, and she has been the best gift we could hope for." —kmccoy8832

    18. [Female Stray]

    buzzfeed.com

    "I work as a vet at an animal shelter and we had this teeny tiny 14-year-old dog picked up as a stray. Her owners were contacted, but they said they didn’t want her anymore. She was an absolute mess and had a list of medical problems a mile long. I knew she would never be 'cleared' for adoption, so I took her home and couldn’t have fallen more in love. She’s come so far!"


    —biancas4e6957548

    21. Blaze

    buzzfeed.com

    "So, not a huge difference, but adopted Blaze the greyhound almost a year ago. She came from a race track in Florida. She failed the whole racing thing and before greyhound adoption she probably would have been killed. She had been off the track for two weeks when we brought her home. Aside from her foster home, she had never lived in a house and didn't really get the whole "being a dog" thing. For the longest time, she had this perpetual worried look on her face. She didn't bark or play; she just kinda stared at us. Now she is goofy and sassy and we couldn't love her more. She only gives us sad eyes when she wants treats." —hamela

    22. Reuben

    23. Hammy

    buzzfeed.com

    "A year ago I adopted this little angel and haven't looked back since. I love you with all my heart Hammy! Thanks for traveling the world with me." —natashag48aad5b55

    If you're interested in pet adoption — and why wouldn't you be? — Petfinder has some great information as well as regional adoption opportunities.