Adopt a Furry Friend: The Compassionate Approach to Supporting Animal Welfare

A newspaper report on the pet adoption campaign organised by the Lions Club in 2019

Back in 2019, when I was with the Lions Club of International organising the pet adoption campaign, I told my teammate that we might not want to use the tagline 'Adopt, Don't Shop' because some Lions Club members are pet shop owners. That decision was made because I was the club President and needed to manage all members' feelings, ensuring mutual respect, especially since we are all volunteers. However, as an individual, I would give my full support to encourage people to adopt pets from shelters or rescue organisations rather than purchasing them from commercial breeders, pet stores, or online sellers, for animal welfare.

Commercial breeding facilities, especially puppy mills, are often criticised for prioritising profit over animal well-being. Adopting shelters supports organisations dedicated to animal welfare rather than contributing to businesses that may not prioritise animal health and ethical breeding practices.

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

This also aligns with the teaching of Yoga Sutras, being 'Ahimsa' or non-harmful to all beings in this Universe. Millions of animals, including dogs, cats, and other pets, end up in shelters each year. Some of them have been abandoned, neglected, or even mistreated. Adopting from a shelter gives a second chance to a pet that may have experienced hardship, and providing them with a loving, caring home also helps reduce pet overpopulation.

Shelters often have various animals, including different breeds and mixes. Adopting allows individuals to find a pet that matches their lifestyle and preferences, whether a specific breed or a unique blend. From my recent experience in the United States, I also learned that there is discrimination against the pitbull breed; hence, many of them are left in the shelter. It is good to know that many charities in the United States are helping the pitbull breed break stereotypes through awareness campaigns.

This is also one of the reasons why I have 'Beans', the name of an adopted Pitbull mix, as the primary ambassador for a charity project supporting animal welfare worldwide. Thanks to the support from some friends, we kicked off the 'Beans & Cooper' charity project at the end of October 2023 with some print-on-demand merchandise online to fundraise for certified charities from different countries.

The idea was sparked by a random conversation under the moon with a friend about the legendary Jade Rabbit, and we expanded it into the story in this video. Beans and Cooper, two adorable pets who live separately in the West and East, become space agents to save the world by helping all animals be free from suffering.

We have created print-on-demand merchandise, including 'custom pet pillows', bandanas, and more, where all profits from the online sales go to supporting certified charities that help animal welfare. Within 2 months, we donated GBP500 (Approximately USD650) to help a rescued dog named 'Lora' from a shelter in Bulgaria, Animal Hope Burgas. 'Lora' had a broken pelvis from a car accident, crushed in many places, with impact to her sacrum too. She had to be taken to a specialist vet in Varna and undergo an emergency operation, which needed help with her veterinary bill.

NOTE: The online store is currently unavailable.

Besides helping shelters and rescue centres, we also hope to educate more people about pet responsibility, so adopting a pet is not just a transaction but a commitment to caring for the animal throughout its life. Of course, it is not just dogs and cats that we care about, but all animals around the world. Therefore, we are also promoting the plant-based diet, which you can learn more about by following our Instagram account (@beanscopper.savetheworld; the account was terminated in 2025 after the project's closure).