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.”

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.

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.

And the cats?

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

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.

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.