Christmas 2025 - The Importance and Impact of Pet Adoption

As the year winds down and the streets light up with the familiar glow of December, many of us start to think about what - and who - makes a house feel like home. For some, that thought turns to adding a furry family member. After all, the colder months have a way of making companionship feel especially meaningful. But before bringing a new pet into your life, it’s worth pausing to think carefully about where that pet comes from, and what it truly means to give an animal a home, especially at this time of year.

Every year, reports show a surge in people seeking to buy pets in the lead-up to Christmas. It’s easy to understand why. Puppies and kittens are endlessly appealing, and the thought of a joyful, cute, new presence in the home feels like a perfect way to round off the year.

But the reality is more complicated. Many of those animals (especially the ones bought through online adverts or backyard breeders) end up being rehomed within months once the novelty wears off or the responsibilities become clear, leading to a huge influx of surrendered pets in the new year.

Shelters and rescues brace themselves for this. The start of a new year often brings so many dogs and cats who’ve been given as “gifts”. It’s heartbreaking, not only for the people working tirelessly to find them homes but for the animals themselves, who never asked to be bought or sold.

The phrase ‘adopt, don’t shop’ might feel overused, but it still carries weight, because we believe it still needs saying.

When you adopt, you’re not just adding a pet to your family; you’re changing the course of that animal’s life.

Every dog or cat in a rescue shelter has a story. Some were abandoned, some surrendered, and others simply born into the wrong circumstances. Whatever their history, they all share the same need: a safe, loving home.

Adopting a pet isn’t always easy. It can take patience to find the right match, and rescue animals often come with quirks, habits, or anxieties shaped by their past experiences. But the reward is immense. There’s something profoundly moving about seeing a once-nervous dog begin to trust again, or a cat that finally curls up contentedly on your lap after weeks of cautious watching.

That bond - the kind built through compassion, patience, and understanding - feels different. It feels earned.

In contrast, the rise of online pet sales has made it far too easy to purchase animals without understanding their origins. Behind the cute photos and “ready for collection” messages can lie heartbreaking truths - puppy farms, unethical breeding practices, and animals kept in poor conditions.

These breeders often prioritise profit over welfare, producing litter after litter with little regard for the health of the mother and father, or the long-term well-being of their offspring. Some puppies and kittens are even transported across borders, too young and too frightened, just to meet seasonal demand.

When you buy rather than adopt, even unintentionally, you might be fuelling an industry that treats animals as products. And that’s a difficult truth to sit with, especially at a time of year when compassion should be front and centre. If you are intent on buying, always make sure you’re doing your research. This helpful guide from Dogs Trust is full of information to help you make an informed and ethical decision.

For those who genuinely want to welcome a pet into their lives, timing matters. The festive season, though full of love, can also be chaotic - visitors, travel, noise, and disruption to routines. When you sit down to think about it properly, it’s not always the ideal time for a new animal to settle in and start to feel safe.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t adopt around this time of year - only that it’s worth doing so with care and preparation. Speak to your local rescue organisation about the right moment, ask questions about each animal’s needs, and make sure you have the space and time to help them adjust.

And if you’re not quite ready yet? There are so many other ways to support rescue animals. Donating food, blankets, toys, or money can make a real difference to shelters operating at full capacity over the busy festive period. Volunteering a few hours a week or offering to foster can also be life-changing for a pet waiting for a permanent home.

Sometimes, the greatest act of love is waiting until you’re truly ready.

There’s something uniquely grounding about the decision to adopt. It’s a quiet act of kindness that doesn’t need an audience and one that reminds us that generosity isn’t always about giving things, but giving care, stability, and trust.

Maybe that’s what makes adoption so powerful. It aligns perfectly with the values many of us rediscover at this time of year: compassion, reflection, and hope for something better.

Choosing adoption is about seeing beyond the first impression, beyond the idea of a ‘perfect pet’ that we’re often missold and recognising that love and loyalty often come in unexpected forms.

So, if you’ve been thinking about bringing a pet into your life, consider visiting your local shelter first. Listen to the stories of the animals there. Ask about their personalities, their quirks, their routines. You might find that the perfect companion isn’t the one you imagined- but the one who’s been waiting all along.

When you adopt, you’re not just giving a pet a home; you’re giving them a future. And there’s no better gift than that.

Not sure quite where to begin? We’ve been supporting numerous animal rescues across the UK since 2024 with our Second Chance Grant and have donated over £50k to charities in need. Some of the shelters we’re proud to support are:

• Many Tears Rescue

• Jackson's Animal Rescue

• Hope Rescue

• Newcastle Dog and Cat Rescue

• London Inner City Kitties

• Brighter Days Rescue

• Pawprints2Freedom

• Lincs Dobermann Rescue

• Mayhew Rescue Centre