There are so many ways to include pets in your holiday plans, from giving them a special Christmas dinner to driving around to look at lights. After all, pets are part of the family, too, so why should they be left out?
It’s heartbreaking to think that thousands of shelter pets won’t get the cozy, joyful Christmas they deserve, but one famous dog foster mom (and soon-to-be author), Isabel Klee, was determined to give local shelter dogs their own special day. She partnered with Muddy Paws NYC to let shelter dogs choose their own toys for Christmas, and it was the most joyful day for everyone!
Merry Christmas, sweet angels! Each happy dog had their own unique reaction to walking into a room full of toys, but they all got so excited to find the gift they truly wanted.
Commenters like @cdodson loved “The way they absolutely explode with joy when they found their toy,” but some pups’ reactions stood out more than others. Sumo tossing his Lamb Chop around made me smile from ear to ear, and Jelly trying to take as many toys as possible had me laugh out loud. I’m so glad they let him take two!
“Jelly’s greed made me so happy,” @naomi_bnda agreed. Shelter and rescue dogs like these sweethearts deserve an entire stash of Christmas presents! In this case, there have to be enough dog toys to go around, but each of these babies will have all the toys their hearts desire when they’re each adopted.
Commenter @guiltyasfck spoke for everyone when they said, “all I want for Christmas is for them all to find a home.”
Shelter Pit Bulls
It doesn’t take a canine expert to see that the dogs in this video have something in common: They’re all Pit Bulls. Sadly, ‘Bully’ breeds are some of the most common shelter dog breeds across America, but this is not a reflection of their personalities or demeanors. As everyone saw in this emotional video, Pit Bulls are such playful, loving dogs!
“The amount of Pit mixes [in shelters] is heartbreaking,” wrote @valeriecilione. The breed’s unfair reputation often leads to labels like ‘aggressive,’ but when they’re raised with love and patience, they’re just as gentle and affectionate as any other dog. In fact, Pit Bulls can make excellent therapy dogs and friends for children, too!
Shelter dogs like these Pitties deserve to have the most magical Christmas, and acts of kindness like Isabel’s make that a reality. This could be the perfect inspiration to help you plan something special for shelter dogs in your area this holiday season!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.