Indianapolis Animal Care Services Adoptable Dogs

Photos of Overjoyed Shelter Dogs at the Moment of Adoption

Photo Courtesy: Mindy Schauer/Digital First Media/Orange County Register/Getty Images

There's nothing that says joy and gratitude like the look on a dog's face when they realize that they have found their forever home. The American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that 3.3 million dogs and almost as many cats enter U.S. animal shelters yearly — a number that thankfully has been trending downward in recent years.

Whether you're having a bad day or just love those doggos, these pictures will let you relive the best moment in a dog's life.

How to Change a Life

If you want to change a life forever and have the means and desire to, consider adopting a shelter dog. Animal shelters are akin to the human form of prison for dogs. It can shatter a dog's soul to be passed over day after day, and only a good home can make things better.

Photo Courtesy: FunnyPig/Youtube

You might also consider that Emotional Support Animals (ESA's) are prescribed to people with mental health difficulties. These include everything from anxiety disorders to PTSD therapy. Dogs are amazing, and these particular dogs help people cope with life.

From Tires to Tail Wagging

This endearing little pup was abandoned at a young age. When humans came across her, she had made a home for herself in a junkyard, nestled into an old tire. And it took a lot of coaxing to get her to leave the safety of her rubber nest.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Luckily, she left the junkyard life behind for the shelter, where caretakers discovered that she had undergone some serious physical harm. Now this pooch's life is filled with love, which has made her much less skittish and way more into wagging that tail.

Echo Finds Her Voice

Echo was an older beagle who was rescued from a laboratory in China by Beagle Freedom Project. She was so terrified to come out of her crate after living her entire life in a cage and being experimented on that she had to be dragged out.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Echo had already been blinded by a product the laboratory researchers put into her eyes before she was rescued. One of her eyes had to be removed to alleviate her chronic pain. Even so, Echo came out of her shell beautifully after she was adopted by two lovely people named Jenna and Jay.

Spokey

Spokey was a defeated dog. She had completely and utterly given up hope that someone would adopt her and didn't even look at the people who came by. She stared at the floor instead. Then that all changed.

Photo Courtesy: FunnyPig/Youtube

You can see in the pictures that a difference of just one day changed Spokey completely. She's now happy and eager to begin her new and improved life with her family. No more staring at the floor — this pup is gleefully greeting her future.

Hopping with Joy

Meet this little pooch, who went from scared to leave his cage to happy — or hoppy — as can be. If you've never seen complete and utter bliss and happiness on a dog's face, take a gander at this guy as he zooms around.

This sweet boy was more than glad to leave the loud, lonely, cold shelter for greener pastures. While at the shelter, this sweet dog couldn't stop shaking. However, since being adopted he's traded his nerves in for chasing sticks and dashing around. Pictures really can say a million words — and, in this case, all of them are good words.

Baron

Baron showed up at the Michigan Humane Society with his nose and ears missing, which veterinarian Dr. Shirene Cece, Director of Shelter Medicine at MHS, thought was intentional. The shelter patched up his many injuries and even reconstructed his nose so he could breathe normally.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

When Baron healed, the shelter called up a special family they knew would love Baron and provide him with a wonderful home. At their first meeting, Baron rolled on the floor to express his joy and kissed his owner's face.

Pinkerton

Once upon a time, a staff sergeant showed up at an adoption event hosted on his military base by the local animal shelter. He met his new best friend there: a delightful and endearing English bulldog named Pinkerton. The two friends bonded instantly and lived happily ever after.

Photo Courtesy: Sgt. Valerie C. Eppler/Wikimedia Commons

Pets of all kinds have been found in studies to be therapeutic to veterans. Some shelters even have programs that waive adoption fees for veterans and provide starter kits with things like leashes, beds and bowls.

Ragamuffin Rescued

The terrified, sad dog in the picture on the left is worlds away from the confident, ecstatic dog on the right, but believe it or not, it's the same dog! This poor little ragamuffin was neglected for so long that she almost forgot how to be happy.

Photo Courtesy: FunnyPig/Youtube

This pup's new mom took one look at her and knew in her heart that she was the dog for her. Ms. Rags-To-Riches got the chance to live up to her new name with a life in a safe, clean house and a family to love her.

The Amazing Chloe

This unbelievable-but-true story is about a wonderful dog named Chloe and her owner, Nicole Grimes. When Nicole went searching for a new dog to complete her family, she saw a poodle/pomeranian mix that looked a lot like a dog she had owned years ago. Unfortunately, Nicole's parents had made her give up her beloved pet years before.

Photo Courtesy: Zooland/Youtube

After wondering at the similarities between the two animals, she realized that the dog was the right age to be her Chloe! The vet confirmed Chloe's identity by her microchip, and — you guessed it — they lived happily ever after.

Double the Joy

These two gentle pit bulls may have been disregarded for months at the shelter simply because of their breed. Finally, one family overlooked the negative stereotypes and gave them a chance. Hopefully it works out excellently for all involved.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Pit bulls, or dogs that resemble American Staffordshire Terriers, account for 40 percent of all dogs euthanized in city shelters, according to caninejournal.com. The fact is that the disposition of a dog depends on upbringing, and pit bulls are more often selected by bad owners, often for fighting purposes, which doesn't they're bad dogs. Certainly not these two!

Sweet Lullaby

Poor Lullaby was abandoned by her previous family and was so close to freezing to death that she was like a limp rag when rescuers picked her up. Lullaby fought hard to live, and she perked right up once she was warm and hydrated.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

One day, Lullaby's most fervent wish came true, and a family came along who wanted to give her a loving forever home. This is a picture of her rolling joyfully in the grass at her new house, where she has blossomed into a confident, happy pooch — and she even has a brother dog to play with.

Pure Happiness

This senior dog's expression is undoubtedly content. Not only did she get to leave the shelter permanently, but she also got a wonderful family. Her new family is surely just as elated for her to be joining them

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Shelter dogs often experience prolonged stress, which can manifest as weight loss, constant pacing, circling or whining. Nobody wants to live in a cage for eternity, or for any length of time at all. Luckily, this good girl doesn't have to anymore.

Excitement All Around

This photo is of a dog's first ride with her new owners, and it's clear by the smiles and excited expressions that these three were destined to be together. This photo of excitement-at-first-sight is certainly heartwarming, and they're sure to have lots of fun in their future.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

It's hard to judge a dog's character by the way they act in a shelter because of the extreme amounts of stress they're are under. It takes a special person (or two!) to see through the anxiety and fear and into a dog's heart.

Happy & Excited

This pup looks like he's saying, "I'm ready! Where are we going?!" If that smile doesn't say happiness, nothing does. Clearly, he's got a new lease on life — and the lovely new collar to prove it.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

This picture proves that you can drastically change the life of a shelter pet for the better. Even volunteering at your local shelter can improve the lives of many animals, and it just may improve your life, too — after all, who doesn't enjoy a Sunday with some dogs?

Grinning From Ear to Ear

This is another joyful picture posted by a family newly acquainted with their canine companion. Meaty joined three other dogs to complete this big family. While this man looks happy to be giving this deserving pooch a brand new home outside of a cage, the dog's smile stole the show!

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

With his loneliness a thing of the past, Mr. Meaty positively beams gratitude and positivity. Dogs are great at expressing their emotions, and the feeling shown in this awesome picture is definitely unfettered rejoicement.

Trinket

Who wouldn't love this face! Trinket was rescued from a hoarding situation — her owner's house was dangerously full of not just junk but other dogs. She's lucky to be with a new owner who treats her right.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Hoarding is a major problem in the US, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) estimates that up to 250,000 animals per year suffer as a result. Trinket was locked in a tiny, filthy cage filled with excrement, her fur was so matted that she looked twice her actual size. There will be no more suffering in her future.

Happiness

It's clear by the hope in this dog's eyes that he's happy to be adopted. He just wants to get out of there! Unfortunately, large and especially black dogs have a hard time getting adopted, so this guy is particularly lucky.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Rottweilers are said to be noble and self-assured, and if this picture is any indication, they certainly are. Rottweilers have been used as police, military and mountain rescue dogs, and they are extremely loyal and protective. We know this Rottie will fit right in with his new family.

Belle

Belle's life was spent in a tiny, filthy cage in a puppy mill, where she spent her life churning out puppies as if she were a machine instead of a dog. Belle suffered greatly and ultimately lost both of her eyes.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

One day, some rescuers came and saved Belle and many other dogs from dying in such horrific conditions. Belle had spent 12 years in that cage. If you don't want to support puppy mills, the ASPCA recommends adopting from shelters rather than buying from pet stores, which are often supplied by them.

Daniel

Daniel was tiny when he was rescued from a puppy mill with over 300 other dogs. He was so sick that he literally crawled to his rescuers. They rehabilitated Daniel, and he turned into a wonderful, sweet adult dog who loves to romp and play with his new family.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

There are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in America, according to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the ASPCA. In these facilities, there are approximately 167,388 breeding dogs living in deplorable conditions.

Pirate and Her Miracle

Meet Pirate, who spent a sad seven years in a shelter in Hawaii. She was a very sweet older dog that "just kept getting overlooked," according to shelter staff. Then her fortunes changed; a woman named Jennifer Hoyt and her husband who were stationed in Oahu wanted a dog.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Hoyt saw Pirate on the shelter's website and went to meet her. She bought Pirate her first bed and began building their relationship. According to Hoyt, "She just started winning my heart over." Pirate was 11 when she finally went home with the Hoyts, and she has been ecstatic ever since.

Puppy Love

When Nubby's parents got him, he was exactly five-hours-old, a minuscule 13.5 ounces and missing his front legs. Nubby's dad recalled, "We never thought he'd get through the first night," but he certainly did, and he continued to thrive.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Nubby miraculously recovered from aspiration pneumonia and pancreatitis and went on to meet his new doggy best friend, Rita. He also figured out how to be mobile on his own and jump. Nubby has a wonderful quality of life thanks to his humans, who have given him wheels and remodeled their house to suit his special needs.

Gobi

Dion Leonard was running a race in China when a tiny dog started running alongside him. He named her Gobi after the desert the race was in and started feeding her. She ended up running 77 miles with him. According to Leonard, "I saw a lot of courage and resilience in her."

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Leonard decided to take Gobi home to the UK with him, but during the required quarantine process, Gobi went missing. Dion was distraught and flew back to China to find her. Miraculously, he did, and he and Gobi have been happily together ever since.

Quincy the Cutiepie

Quincy was placed in an incubator immediately after being born by cesarean section, as most bulldogs are. She was only seven tiny ounces. Dogs who have special needs are less likely to get adopted, but luckily, Quincy was an exception

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

A lot of bulldogs have an underbite and can potentially be more difficult to care for because of dental problems like tooth or tissue erosion or trauma. If your dog suffers from this condition and is in pain, consider enlisting the care of a veterinary dentist.

Courtney and Indigo

Courtney was a young woman who became ill with many different chronic immune disorders. She started fostering animals to lift her spirits — over 100 animals, in fact — although she didn't keep any of them. Then Courtney met Indigo.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Indigo proved to be a very special dog indeed. In fact, she had some of the same ailments that Courtney suffered from. The shelter that Indigo came from wanted to euthanize her because of her health, so Courtney fought for Indigo and won. They have been inseparable ever since.

Benny the Bouncing Dog

Benny the Dog was in the shelter for a month, and that was quite enough for him! When his new owners got Benny out of the kennel run, he wasn't quite sure what was happening and was afraid. Eventually, they convinced him to come out.

Photo Courtesy: DailyPicksandFlicks/Youtube

Once Benny made the leap of faith and the leap out of his cage, he couldn't stop jumping for joy! He leaped happily and bounced all the way to the car, only staying still long enough for this one photo to be snapped.

Hunter Finds Freedom

Poor, sweet Hunter was caged for months before this man and his wife decided they would give him his forever home. According to his new owner, "He was in the shelter for eight months and no one wanted him. I believe he was waiting for my wife and I."

Photo Courtesy: FunnyPig/Youtube

Whether it was divine intervention or just a doggy wish come true, we couldn't be happier for Hunter and his newfound freedom and family. Hunter is a testament to the fact that sometimes even young, healthy, friendly dogs have a hard time getting adopted from shelters.

Besties 4 Life

This poor, sweet dog might have been scheduled to be euthanized because of overcrowding, but fortunately for her and her new family, she was rescued. This dog seems a little worried, but soon she'll have no fear because she'll be happily inside her new forever home.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

You can clearly see that this dog's new built-in bestie is beaming in the photo, and the rest of the family probably is, too. In a cage in the shelter, the dogs stare at passersby with pleading, hopeful eyes. After adoption, they smile from ear to ear!

A Boy's Best Friend

This lucky boy looks delighted that this pooch has claimed him for his own.There's nothing like a treasured companion to turn to when nobody seems to understand what you're going through.

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Obviously, adults love their pets for the same reason — the unconditional love and friendship that only animals seem to be capable of. That said, having a pet as a child can teach empathy, compassion, patience, friendship, gratitude and tolerance.

Huxley

When Huxley's new owners brought him home, he was exhausted from all of the excitement of the day. All Huxley wanted to do was take a nap! And so he did, right on top of his brand new owner in order to properly bond with her.

Photo Courtesy: FunnyPig/Youtube

Dogs show affection in many ways, including snuggling, tail wagging and of course through their beautifully happy smiles. Dogs also show affection and love by "nosing" at them, or nudging for attention, and making meaningful eye contact.

Ita (AKA Sparky)

This precious pup got adopted from the shelter at 12 years old. On the subject of senior dogs, Jorge Ortega, senior director of the ASPCA Adoption Center, says, "It is a sad fact that senior pets are often the last to be adopted from shelters, putting them at an increased risk for euthanasia."

Photo Courtesy: The Dodo/Youtube

Mr. Ortega goes on to note, "You're not only welcoming a lifetime of love into your home, you're also saving a precious life." Senior dogs are usually already house-trained, lower energy and less demanding than younger dogs.

Indianapolis Animal Care Services Adoptable Dogs

Source: https://www.ask.com/culture/photos-shelter-dogs-moment-adoption?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

Share this post