Sarah had been thinking about getting a pet for several months. She lived alone in a small apartment and often felt lonely in the evenings. Her friend Maria had recently adopted a cat from the local animal shelter. Maria could not stop talking about how wonderful it was to have a companion at home. 'You should visit the shelter,' Maria suggested one afternoon over coffee. 'Even if you are not ready to adopt, it might help you decide.' The following Saturday, Sarah drove to the Happy Paws Animal Shelter. The building was larger than she had expected, with a bright blue entrance. A friendly woman named Helen greeted her at the reception desk. 'Welcome to Happy Paws! Are you interested in adopting today?' 'I am just looking around for now,' Sarah replied nervously. Helen smiled warmly and handed her a brochure about the adoption process. 'Take your time. The dogs are in the back, and the cats are upstairs.' Sarah decided to visit the dogs first. As she walked through the corridor, she could hear barking from behind the doors. The room was filled with kennels of different sizes. Some dogs jumped excitedly at the front of their kennels when they saw her. Others lay quietly in the corner, watching her with curious eyes. A volunteer named Tom approached her and offered to introduce some of the dogs. 'This is Max,' Tom said, pointing to a large golden retriever. 'He is five years old and very gentle with everyone.' Sarah spent a few minutes with Max, but she felt that something was missing. Tom showed her several other dogs, including a playful beagle and a calm older labrador. None of them seemed like the right match for Sarah. As she was about to leave, she noticed a small kennel in the corner that she had missed. Inside was a medium-sized dog with brown and white fur. The dog was lying down but lifted her head when Sarah approached. 'That is Luna,' Tom said softly. 'She came to us about three weeks ago.' 'Her previous owner had to move to a place that did not allow pets.' Sarah knelt down beside the kennel and reached her fingers through the bars. Luna stood up slowly and walked over to sniff her hand. Then something unexpected happened. Luna gently licked Sarah's fingers and then pressed her head against her palm. Sarah felt her heart melt in that moment. 'Can I spend some time with her?' Sarah asked, her voice trembling slightly. Tom smiled and opened the kennel door. They went to a small play area where Sarah could interact with Luna more freely. Luna stayed close to Sarah the entire time, following her every movement. When Sarah sat down on a bench, Luna jumped up and sat beside her. Sarah spent nearly an hour with Luna, and she knew her decision had already been made. She returned to the reception desk and told Helen that she wanted to adopt Luna. Helen was delighted and explained the paperwork that needed to be completed. 'There is an adoption fee that covers her vaccinations and microchip,' Helen explained. Sarah filled out the application form and paid the fee without any hesitation. The shelter provided her with a leash, a bag of dog food, and some basic supplies. 'Luna is a very loyal dog,' Tom said as he walked them to the door. 'I am sure she will make you very happy.' The drive home felt different with Luna sitting in the back seat. Sarah kept glancing in the mirror to make sure Luna was comfortable. Luna seemed calm and watched the passing scenery through the window. When they arrived at the apartment, Sarah carefully guided Luna inside. Luna explored every corner of her new home with curiosity. She sniffed the furniture, the rugs, and even Sarah's shoes by the door. Sarah had prepared a cozy bed in the corner of the living room. She showed Luna where she could sleep, eat, and drink water. That evening, Sarah made herself dinner while Luna lay nearby, watching her. The apartment no longer felt empty or quiet. Before going to bed, Sarah took Luna outside for a short walk around the neighborhood. The night air was cool and fresh, and Luna seemed to enjoy exploring the new smells. Back inside, Luna settled into her new bed without any problems. Sarah smiled as she turned off the lights. She knew that the next few days would require patience as Luna adjusted to her new life. The following morning, Sarah woke up to find Luna standing by her bedside. Luna's tail wagged gently as soon as Sarah opened her eyes. 'Good morning, Luna,' Sarah said with a yawn. They established a morning routine very quickly. First, they would go for a walk in the nearby park. Then Sarah would feed Luna and prepare her own breakfast. As the weeks passed, the bond between Sarah and Luna grew stronger. Luna learned to recognize the sound of Sarah's car coming home from work. She would wait by the door, her tail wagging excitedly. Sarah began taking Luna to the dog park on weekends. Luna was shy at first but eventually started playing with other dogs. Sarah even made some new friends among the other dog owners. One evening, Sarah called Maria to tell her about Luna. 'You were absolutely right,' Sarah said happily. 'Adopting Luna was the best decision I have ever made.' Maria was thrilled to hear how well things had worked out. 'Luna is lucky to have found you,' Maria replied warmly. As the months went by, Sarah could not imagine her life without Luna. The loneliness she had once felt in her apartment had completely disappeared. Luna had brought joy, companionship, and purpose into her everyday life. Sarah realized that she had not just saved Luna from the shelter. In many ways, Luna had saved her too. On the anniversary of Luna's adoption, Sarah took her back to the shelter for a visit. Helen and Tom were delighted to see how healthy and happy Luna looked. 'This is exactly what we hope for when animals leave our shelter,' Helen said with tears in her eyes. Sarah decided to make a donation to the shelter to help other animals find their homes. She also started volunteering there on weekends whenever she had free time. Walking back to the car with Luna, Sarah felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. She looked down at Luna, who was trotting happily beside her. 'Thank you for choosing me,' Sarah whispered. Luna looked up at her with bright, loving eyes, as if she understood every word. At that moment, Sarah knew that some of the best things in life come when you least expect them. All it took was one visit to the shelter to change everything.
English Story (B1)Adopting a Pet
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sarah, feeling lonely in her small apartment, visits an animal shelter after her friend's encouragement. While looking at various dogs, she discovers Luna, a gentle brown and white dog whose previous owner had to give her up. They share an instant connection, and Sarah decides to adopt her. As weeks pass, Luna brings joy, companionship, and purpose into Sarah's life, transforming her daily routine. On the anniversary of the adoption, Sarah visits the shelter to donate and volunteer, grateful for the unexpected bond that changed both their lives.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Luna's previous owner give her up?
2
What did Sarah do on the anniversary of Luna's adoption?
3
Who suggested that Sarah should visit the animal shelter?
4
What was included in the adoption fee that Sarah paid?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
