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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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Santa Paws has come early to this dog shelter in Ireland where the dogs have been spoiled for choice with toys.
The heartwarming moment shows 23 dogs entering a room full of toys one by one before choosing something to play with ahead of Christmas.
Newsweek reached out to the Dog Trust Ireland and spoke to Corina Fitzsimons, the PR, and communications manager.
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She said: "Christmas Day is always very special as everyone pitches in to ensure the dogs have a very special day. As a charity that receives no government funding, we rely solely on the generosity of our supporters who donated all the toys in the video.
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"We recorded 74 dogs choosing a toy over one day but left the toys set up for the following two days, so every dog got to pick a toy and every Canine Carer got to experience the joy of watching the dogs choose.
"It's a really uplifting experience, watching each dog's individual method of selection. Some dogs are so sweet and gentle that it brings a tear to your eye when they finally choose, whereas others bulldoze in, scattering toys everywhere and doing a victory lap when they have finally chosen.
"It's especially endearing for us humans when our favorite dog selects their toy and brings it straight to us to show it off, it makes you feel very honored!"
Why You Shouldn't Get a Dog for Christmas
While the shelter staff would love nothing more than for the dogs to find a fur-ever home, Fitzsimons urges people to think about the long-term commitment that comes with owning a dog.
She told Newsweek the shelter in Finglas, Dublin, received almost 300 surrender requests in January last year.
"Sadly, we received 297 surrender requests from members of the public, from Christmas Day to the end of January, seeking to relinquish their dogs into our care. This is a 73 percent increase on the 172 requests received over the same period last year.
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"While Christmas is celebrated differently in many homes, some people may not celebrate it all, and for some, it may actually be the quietest period of the year, so we take potential adoptions on a case-by-case basis."
Fitzsimons points out that Christmas isn't the best time for many families to adopt a new furry friend, especially a puppy as they "crave lots of attention and comfort." She states it may not be possible to cater to their needs during a busy time like Christmas.
She said: "Christmas is also a time when there tend to be lots of forbidden foods and decorations within reach!"
Fitzsimons urges people to consider the following points about getting a dog during the festive season:
Why Christmas Is Not a Good Time for a Busy Household To Get a Dog:
- Attention: A puppy, especially one who has recently left the comfort of his litter mates and mom, will crave attention and comfort and you may just not have the time to provide this at a busy time like Christmas.
- Guests: Christmas is often the busiest time of year in homes with lots of guests and excitement: this can be overwhelming for any puppy!
- Housetraining: Housetraining a puppy takes a few weeks (or even a few months), lots of patience, routine, and consistency with the whole family, and most importantly you need to be there to recognize when your puppy needs to 'go'. With the festivities, this can be difficult to do as your concentration can be on preparing meals and wrapping presents, etc.
- Trees and decorations: Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year for most of us. But, with lots of forbidden foods and decorations within reach, it can be a very busy time for veterinary practices around the country! Chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and alcohol are toxic to dogs and rich fatty foods can cause serious damage. You'd need eyes on the back of your head with a puppy around all of these harmful temptations!
- Gifts: There are usually lots of new, expensive gifts lying around at Christmas, and puppies like and need to chew; they cannot differentiate between cheap and expensive items.
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'A Dog Is for Life, Not Just for Christmas'
The Dog Trust charity has used this phrase for over 40 years, and Fitzsimons swears by it.
The Spruce Pets, a U.S. vet-reviewed resource, revealed a dog can cost about $1,500 to $9,900 per year. The price of food can range from $250 to $700 and routine veterinary care for a healthy dog can vary from $700 to $2,000.
Fitzsimons told Newsweek: "Gifts at Christmas are an indulgence for our loved ones: puppies are a 12-year commitment and simply not a material item to be gifted as a surprise.
"Puppies need stability, routine, and a calm environment to settle into, and as wonderful as Christmas is, this is not the time of the year to make such a commitment," she added.
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