Christmas certainly came early for these shelter dogs, with plenty of toys to choose from.
With 264 dogs to look after over the festive period, Dogs Trust Ireland has gone above and beyond to ensure their furry residents have a merry Christmas.
Corina Fitzsimons, the trust’s public relations and communications manager spoke Newsweek about the adorable footage, which shows pooches picking out a toy.
He said: “We enrolled 54 dogs because some can take up to 20 minutes to choose a toy (it’s a big decision), but every dog in our care gets at least one toy.”
Dogs Trust, Ireland
The tradition began in 2017 when the Secret Santa staff played games for the dogs. The following year they solicited toy donations from the general public and allowed the dogs to choose their own.
Fitzsimons said Newsweek: “This year we’ve had hundreds of toys donated, and some even shipped from the U.S. I’m not sure who’s more excited about the toys, us opening the post and deliveries or the dogs on the day that they chose them.
“This is the fifth year we’ve done this video and every year, despite the same set up, it’s different and really highlights how all dogs are individuals with their own set of preferences.
“The reason we loved making the video was that it was so special to witness each dog’s individual reaction. Some burst through the door and scattered toys everywhere in an excited frenzy and when they chose the ‘the’ toy, they are excited to zoomies.
“For dog lovers, it doesn’t get much better than seeing dogs doing zoomies! Others prefer people and after a sniff will come over for a hug. Then there are those who try every toy of three or four times before picking, and many of the Si Collies who found a plain ball, threw it at our feet and looked at us as if to say ‘please throw human,’ which we happily obliged.”
The Department of Rural and Community Development’s latest Irish Dog Control Statistics revealed a 95 percent increase in stray dogs entering the pounds, from 2,592 last year to 5,045 in 2022. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to US shelters each year, an average of 17,260 per day.
Newsweek has shared many stories about dogs wanting a place to call home, and some having to wait longer than others.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or photos of your pet that you want to share? Send them to [email protected] along with a few details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
