Shelter Lets Their Animals Pick Out Gifts From Under The Tree For Christmas

If you’re not already in the Christmas spirit, here is something that will undoubtedly get you pumped for the festive season. Shelter pets were given a chance to pick out their Christmas presents from underneath a giant Christmas tree – and their reactions are just too pure it’ll warm your heart to the core.

Stephanie Filer, manager of special gifts and partnerships for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL-Iowa), told The Dodo that it’s like “seeing kids on Christmas morning after Santa has made his deliveries.”

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

All the gifts came as donations from the community for ARL-Iowa’s annual “Tree of Life” program – an event that brings in pet food, supplies, and toys in order to last the shelter several months into the coming year.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

Five dogs and four cats got the chance to choose their gifts from among the massive pile of goodies.

Filer says watching the animals’ selection process was almost as much fun as watching them enjoy their toys afterward.

And each animal had a different strategy.

While some grabbed the first item they say, others sniffed around a bit before making a choice. And there was one dog, Boss, who was so excited about all the attention he was receiving, he didn’t actually play with his toy until he was back in his kennel.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

And the cats?

As Filer says, they mostly “enjoyed playing ON the donated items.”

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

And all except one of these excited animals got the best gift this Christmas season: a loving forever home!

There’s one guy who was left behind – a sweet young kitten named Frank. Poor little Frank is still waiting for his Christmas miracle.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

If you are interested in adopting Frank, here is Frank’s adoption listing. And if you can’t adopt, here’s how to donate to ARL-Iowa in order to still be able to give something to the animals’ welfare this Christmas.

Shelter Pets Pick Out Toys From Under the Tree

CHECK THIS OUT! It's not quite Christmas yet, but we let some of our adoptable cats and dogs pick out a toy from our Tree of Life to take back to their kennel a few days early- and they loved it! You can donate to our Tree of Life through the end of the month, but what these babes are really wishing for is a new home – so adopt today!Wish List: http://www.arl-iowa.org/get-involved/fetch-list-items-needed/default.aspxAvailable Pets: http://www.arl-iowa.org/find-a-pet/(Update: Jango, Snoop, Hemi, Boss, and Luanne have all been adopted!)

Posted by Animal Rescue League of Iowa on Wednesday, December 21, 2016


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