After a wild year, Christmas will arrive, bringing all the festive cheer we’ve been waiting for! It’s that special time to share love, joy, and kindness with everyone around us. But who says Christmas is only for people?
The staff at Dogs Trust Ireland’s Rehoming Center in Dublin decided to do something unique for their furry friends this year. Instead of just handing out gifts, they let the dogs choose their own Christmas presents. Pretty amazing, right?
“We recorded 35 dogs picking their toys,” said one staff member. “Then we spent hours editing the clips to capture the best reactions. A few dogs even preferred snuggles over toys! We let them go in one at a time to keep things calm—and to make sure no one wanted the same toy.”
Back in 2017, the shelter introduced a “Secret Santa Paws” for the dogs, where staff gifted a present to a long-term resident. The reactions were heartwarming. The next year, they took it up a notch. Staff members donated toys, and they thought, “Why not let the dogs pick their own?” Watching the dogs’ joy that day was unforgettable, so the tradition continued. This year, they combined donations from supporters with toys from the staff, lining them all up for the dogs to choose from.
Some pups made their choice in seconds, while others took their time, sniffing each gift carefully before deciding.
Dogs Trust Ireland is Ireland’s largest charity dedicated to dog welfare. Since 2005, they’ve been rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs, all while working toward a day when every dog lives happily, free from unnecessary harm. They proudly promise they’ll “never destroy a healthy dog.”
“As you’ll see, for some dogs, picking a toy was a big decision! Others went straight for the squeakiest one they could find,” a staff member shared.
This heartwarming event was posted on social media, showing the dogs’ pure delight as they explored and chose their gifts. The staff felt just as happy seeing these pups enjoy their special moment, making this Christmas as perfect as ever.
“Every year, we pause adoptions over the holiday season, so the dogs in the video are still with us. But we’re hoping to find them Forever Homes in the new year! Other shelters have even tried this idea, tagging us in their posts. Watching each dog’s personality come through as they pick out a toy is incredible. We really hope this helps each one find a loving family!”
