Adopt, Never Shop

Our #Adopt, Never Shop Student Challenge educates, equips and empowers students across North America to prevent pet overpopulation and promote pet adoptions and fosters 

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Sign the Pledge

1000's of students = 1000's of pet adoptions

Our Mission

Youth4Animals unites teens and animals to achieve extraordinary results. Uplift lives, foster camaraderie, and inspire hope.

Our Approach

Youth4Animals.org provides students with academic skills required for higher learning: creative writing, social media marketing, community outreach, team building/leadership, social/humane justice and more...

Our Mission

 Preventing the epidemic of pet overpopulation and saving the lives of 5 million loving companion animals every year begins and ends with the humane education of our youth.   

A simple analogy: what’s less painful, less expensive and more effective: brushing your teeth twice daily or needing a root canal? Right. Prevention is the key

Put another way: all the animal shelters, pounds, rescue and foster groups in the world can’t possibly keep up with the number of pets produced inhumanely and for profit by puppy mills and backyard breeders. Prevention is the key and educating our youth to always #adopt, and never shop is the only answer- creating a new generation of youth who would never consider obtaining their next pet from a pet store or a classified ad. Ever.  

Please sign & share our #Adopt, Never Shop Pledge form on this site 

Join us in making a difference

Our Youth4Animals.org #Adopt, Never Shop Pet Profile Challenge is about the mass collaboration of students sharing pet adoption profiles and writing their personal stories

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Upcoming Events

02 Apr
12:04 AM

Spring Fundraiser

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14 Aug
06:08 AM

End of Summer Fundraiser

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02 Dec
12:12 AM

Giving Tuesday Online Event

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Empowering Lives Through Animals

Earn your community service hours right here helping animals find their “forever and foster” homes

Join us transforming lives through animals.

  • Humane Education

Students earning community service hours by sharing their pet profiles and stories

  • Humane Education

Students enhancing academic skills for higher learning: team building/leadership, creative writing, social media skills, community outreach, social justice

  • Education

Students qualifying to win our monthly $100 prizes and our annual $500 Paid Internship

Ready to be a part of the change?

Trusted by 120 volunteers
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Real Voices, Real Impact

Lola C

Brooklyn S

Maria A

Lola's Journey to Confidence

I'm a 13 year old middle school student who was looking to volunteer for a good cause. I had lots of choices but chose Youth4Animals and their #adopt, never shop Challenge. I learned a lot including the story behind all those poor dogs and cats at my local shelter. There are so many and more coming into the shelter all the time. I truly believe that by sharing many pet profiles with my friends and family, I made a difference. I recommend this Challenge to any student who wants to make that difference.

Lola C

Student

From Struggles to Strides

I was looking for a way to get involved in something meaningful outside of school, and I ended up joining a project that focused on helping the community. There were lots of paths I could’ve taken, but this one really stood out—it involved helping animals find new homes. Through the experience, I gained a better understanding of the challenges these animals face and how even small efforts, like sharing information or raising awareness, can make a difference. Talking about it with friends and family made me realize how much impact one person can have. I’d definitely suggest it to other students who want to be part of something that matters.

Brooklyn S

Swinging for Dreams: Maria's Triumph

Getting involved in a community project was something I’d been wanting to do, and when I found one that focused on animal adoption, it felt like the right fit. I didn’t know much at first, but the more I learned about what animals go through while waiting for a home, the more motivated I became. I helped by spreading the word and sharing adoption info with people I knew. It felt good knowing I was part of something that gave these animals a better chance. I’d encourage anyone who cares about animals to get involved in something like this—you can really make a difference.

Maria A

These stories are just a glimpse of the many lives that the #Adopt, Never Shop Student Challenge has touched. Students, register now to join 1000’s of students in helping these animals.

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