Even though the circumstances have slightly improved over the past few years, shelters remain filled to capacity with dogs. The ongoing influx of new animals, coupled with the low rate of current adoptions, has unfortunately led to many needing to be euthanized.
In such a disheartening environment, few things can create a smile on the face of a shelter inhabitant. This is particularly true for older dogs who have limited time left in this life and a minimal chance of finding a permanent home.
However, the greatest illustration that a seemingly mundane gift can sometimes mean the world to someone is reflected in the response of a canine resident at a shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina.
That particular day, her time at the shelter turned into a true blessing, all thanks to that very gift.
Heartwarming Response
15-year-old Labrador Retriever, Sallie Mae, had never experienced much luxury in life, moving continuously from one shelter to another.
Prior to her arrival at Forgotten, Now Family Rescue, she was a resident of a shelter in Marion, South Carolina. Just as she began to adjust there, several dogs needed to be moved due to a recent storm, and Sallie Mae was one among them.
What appeared to be yet another chapter in her series of shelters turned out to be marginally more pleasant than her earlier experiences. This was thanks to Chrissy Elder, a compassionate owner who regarded her shelter residents as more than mere statistics.
Her best demonstration of this was one single act towards Sallie Mae, creating such joy in the canine that she couldn’t stop smiling. Once Chrissy discovered that Sallie Mae had a fondness for toys, she purchased a complete set of them.
The video shared on TikTok through her account, @chrissyrescuer, vividly illustrates what it meant for this dog.
“Did I bring sallie mae an entire box of toys today? Yes I did. Was it worth it? Absolutely.” Chrissy remarked in the caption, emphasizing that this occurrence brought her immense joy as well.
Chrissy also highlighted that Sallie Mae, regardless of her age, wears a constant smile and that the toys she gifted her continue to provide great delight.
“She is an older girl, but she’s doing wonderfully. She’s incredibly sweet, kind, and appreciative of everything,” Chrissy shared with Newsweek. “She brings the toys with her wherever she wanders, and the dragon toy has now become her best companion.”
Video That Moved Many to Tears
As anticipated, this video generated significant interest and prompted numerous poignant and heartwarming responses.
We opted to feature some of the remarks.
“I am genuinely crying thank you for loving her!!!!” one user commented.
“You go Sallie Mae! Squeak to your heart’s content 💖” another remarked.
A third user added: “She deserves all the toys in the universe!!!”
Chrissy feels thrilled that Sallie Mae has captured so much attention, yet she also hopes that this viral response online will assist the dog in securing her permanent home.
We will certainly keep our fingers crossed.