"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)

Editorially verified for the Aug 11, 2026

3 Down

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Shelter dog being adopted by a person

Clue explained

The pet-shelter slogan is “Adopt, don’t shop,” encouraging people to take in an animal from a shelter rather than buy one from a breeder or pet store. ADOPT is the imperative verb completing the quoted phrase.

Clue type:
Fill-in-the-blank

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 11, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Magic" items for Jack, in a classic fairy tale
  2. 6What the "A" stands for in A/V
  3. 7Political ally who receives corrupt benefits
  4. 8"Uh-uh"
  5. 9Cutesy suffix with "best"

Down

  1. 1Portmanteau for a skin problem under a T-shirt or bra strap
  2. 2Continental currency units
  3. 3"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)
  4. 4Highest number in sudoku
  5. 5Veggie burger ingredient

The answer to “"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)” in the New York Times Mini crossword is ADOPT — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 11, 2026 at 3-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)” answer

ADOPT (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ADOPT.

What does ADOPT mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ADOPT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • legally take (another's child) and bring it up as one's own
  • choose to take up, follow, or use
  • take on or assume (an attitude or position)

When else has “"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)” appeared?

New York Times Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 11, 2026 (most recent) → ADOPT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)”?

The answer is ADOPT, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 11, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)”?

5 letters: ADOPT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 11, 2026, at 3-Down.

Can “"___, don't shop" (pet shelter slogan)” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's NYT Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Mini answers page.

New York Times Mini Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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