October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. To celebrate, we rounded up some remarkable fan-submitted photos of adopted dogs (and cats) and paired them with nine important lessons rescue pets can teach us about life.
You might think that people are the ones who rescue the pets, but aren’t the pets really rescuing us? Check out our photo gallery of these incredible rescue dogs and cats and you’ll see what we mean.
Live Life to the Fullest Every Day
Tre the rescued Husky mix has only three legs, but that doesn't stop the happy pup from running and playing with his forever family.
A Smile Goes a Long Way
Andy, a rescued Shetland Sheepdog,
was a breeding dog at a puppy mill and lived in a cage that was too
small for him. Now he is all smiles because he lives with his forever
family and gets to cuddle and play all day.
Everyone Deserves a Second Chance
Lacey, a shaded silver Persian, was badly neglected before her forever family found her on a specialty purebred cat rescue site.
Adversity Can Make You Stronger
Bella, a Great Dane, was rescued after being shot multiple times. Her owner, Bryanna Lemanski, says she is now "a foot warmer, a pillow for sick kids and protector of kids scared of monsters under the bed."
Be Proud of Who You Are
Oliver is a rescue cat who was born with no eyelids. Once he found his
forever home, his new family helped him get several surgeries so his fur
would not scratch his corneas.
Helping Others Will Help You
Heisenberg is not only a rescue dog, but also a therapy dog for his owner. "He
reads me like a book from cover to cover, and all he asks in return is
to be loved. I love this crazy little dog to pieces; I don't know
where I would be if I didn't have him in my life," owner Alice Quiles says.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Rudolph, a rescued Golden Retriever-Shar-Pei
mix, is a little different: His hind legs don't stretch out. He may not
walk like other dogs, but he is not in pain and he knows that being
different isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Be Open to Trying New Things
Gia, a rescue dog who has always been a fan of the arts, channels "Woofgang Mozarf" for her owners' entertainment pleasure. You can find a silly and entertaining pup just like Gia by visiting your local animal shelter or by browsing Petfinder.com.
