Yeah, I used to work with shelter cats and some of them were just very... pitiful. This one in particular, that my aunt and uncle later ended up adopting, wasn't doing well in the shelter at all. When I took him out to clean his cage he just wanted me to hold him and he wasn't eating and ;;;;;;. The kittens in shelters always get adopted but the older ones don't always ;~;
And coming home to a little furry thing that's excited to see you day after day is really worth the couple weeks of heartbreak. I mean you get a little companion that loves you unconditionally for 10 years or so ;a;