Adopt Don’t Shop Sweatshirt: Embroidered Rescue Words with a Red Heart or in Cursive

This adopt don’t shop sweatshirt carries the three words every rescue volunteer knows, stitched across the middle of the chest. You choose how they look: thin, spaced capital letters on one line with a small red heart underneath, as in the first photos, or a soft cursive script on two lines, as in the later photos. Keep the thread as shown or pick another color for the words, and add a name or icon on the sleeve if you like. It is a ready-made design that we stitch to order, and every stitch is 100% real embroidery, stitched into the fabric rather than printed.

What is on the adopt don’t shop sweatshirt?

The adopt don’t shop sweatshirt has 3 parts:

• The words: ADOPT DON’T SHOP in spaced capitals on one line, or adopt don’t shop in a cursive script on two lines, centered on the chest.
• The heart: a small red heart under the capitals; the cursive lettering has no heart.
• The sleeve (optional): a name, initials or short word and an icon from the font and icon chart, in the font and thread color you choose, on the left or right sleeve.

Which lettering should you choose?

Pick the lettering in the options above. The spaced capitals are quiet and minimal, with the red heart as the only spot of color, so they suit a sweatshirt you wear to the shelter, the vet or the coffee shop. The cursive script is larger and softer and reads like handwriting, so choose it for a cursive adopt don’t shop sweatshirt with a cozy, relaxed look. Either lettering can go on every sweatshirt and color in the options, and your free proof shows the one you picked.

Which sweatshirt and color should you choose?

Choose the sweatshirt, then its color and size, in the options above. Pick a color and the photos switch to it, so you can see the words on that color before you order.

In the photos each color gets a thread that suits it: a dark thread on light and pastel colors, and a light or bright thread on deep and dark colors. The red heart stays red on every color; muted blues, greens and greys keep the look calm, and soft pastels make the heart stand out.

Can you choose the thread color?

Yes. The thread option starts at As shown, which is the thread in the photo of the color you pick. To change it, pick any color from the thread color chart in the photos for the words; the heart under the capitals stays red. Match it to your rescue’s logo or your pet’s collar, and your free design proof shows the thread on your sweatshirt before we stitch.

How do you order your sweatshirt?

To order your sweatshirt, follow 6 steps:

• Choose the sweatshirt you want.
• Choose its color and size in the options above.
• Choose the lettering, then keep the thread as shown or pick another color for the words.
• Choose whether to add sleeve embroidery.
• If you add it, type the name or initials, then pick the icon, font, thread color and sleeve.
• Add it to your cart; we email a free design proof before we stitch.

How do you add a name or icon on the sleeve?

Sleeve embroidery is optional and goes on one sleeve. Type a short name or initials, such as the name of your rescue pet or your shelter, and pick an icon, a font and a thread color from the charts in the photos, or leave the icon off. White thread is preselected for the darker colors; pick Black or another dark thread for the light colors.

Is it an animal rescue sweatshirt for dog and cat people?

Yes. Adopt don’t shop is the motto of animal rescue, so this sweatshirt works for anyone who has adopted a dog or a cat, fosters pets at home or volunteers at a shelter. There is no breed or species on the front, so a rescue dog mom, a rescue cat dad and a whole volunteer team can wear the same adopt don’t shop crewneck.

Is it a good gift for a rescue volunteer?

Yes. It is a thoughtful thank-you for a shelter volunteer or a foster, a gotcha day gift for someone who just adopted, or a birthday gift for the friend who always shares adoptable pets. Add the name of their rescue pet on the sleeve, and find more ideas in our pet lover gifts.

Is there a hoodie or T-shirt version?

There is no hoodie, but the same words come on our adopt don't shop shirt, stacked in lowercase letters above a red heart on the left chest of a short-sleeve T-shirt. On this sweatshirt, the color and size options above change with the sweatshirt you pick.

What happens after you order?

We email you a free digital design proof, and you can ask for unlimited edits. Once you approve it, we embroider your sweatshirt to order and ship it from the USA; the estimated delivery date is shown on this page. For a birthday or a holiday, order at least two weeks ahead.

Which size should you choose?

Each piece is made to order, so it is not eligible for size exchanges. Open the size guide on this page and compare the chest width and length with a sweatshirt you already own before you order. Size up for an oversized look.

How should you wash an embroidered sweatshirt?

To keep the embroidery bright and the color even, follow 4 steps:

• Turn the sweatshirt inside out before washing.
• Wash it cold with similar colors.
• Tumble dry low or hang it to dry.
• Iron on the reverse side, never directly on the embroidery.

Frequently asked questions

Are the words printed or embroidered?

They are embroidered. The words, the red heart and the sleeve name are stitched in thread, so this embroidered adopt don’t shop sweatshirt has a raised texture you can feel and will not crack or peel like a print.

Is there an adoption design with a dog on it?

Yes. Our found my forever home sweatshirt celebrates one adopted dog: a dog house, an ADOPTED sign with a pink bow and a heart-tagged collar above the words Found My Forever Home. This sweatshirt keeps to the words, so it fits every rescue, dog or cat.

Can I put my own pet on the sweatshirt?

This is a words-only design. To stitch your own pet from a photo, choose the custom dog crewneck or, for a cat, the embroidered cat sweatshirt, and find more ideas in our dog lover gifts and cat lover gifts.