Shelter Dogs So Excited to Choose Their Own Present on ‘Santa Paws Day’

Santa Paws has arrived at Dogs Trust Ireland and the reactions of the dogs in the shelter are ones of pure joy. Santa Paws Day, the dog shelter explains, “is the day where the dogs in our care get to choose a toy (or two!) of their own.”

Toys are lined up on the floor in their Rehoming Centre and then the dogs come in and get to pick what toy they like most. “Watching their decision-making process is fascinating, and the sheer joy when they do choose is contagious,” says the dog charity. It really is! Archie grabs a squeaky ball and runs circles around the room, Leroy’s tail can’t wag any faster as he retrieves the toy for him, Zoe might have grabbed a ball a bit too big for her and Pepper can’t make up his mind.

One thing is for sure, it’s hard for the shelter staff to keep the camera on the dogs as they run excitedly around the room.

We love how all the dogs pick their toys and then give them a test run around the room. They all manage to find a favorite and they are all very different in their picks.

For the past few years, the homeless dogs have gotten to choose their own Christmas present after Dogs Trust Ireland staff decided to forego buying each other gifts and instead bought gifts for the dogs in their care.

The following year, they combined toy donations from their staff and their amazing supporters and now it’s become an annual tradition.

“As you will see, deciding on which toy was a big decision for some dogs and some delighted in the squeakiest toy they could find – you’ll need sound on to appreciate their joy in full effect,” Dogs Trust wrote about a previous year’s event.

We couldn’t resist including the videos from previous years because they are just so fun to watch!

You can find more about the dogs available for adoption in this year’s video by visiting www.dogstrust.ie/rehoming