Sandy the Terrier was found chomped on her new friend, a plush pig in the free gift pile delivered to the Pennsylvania SPCA branch in North Philadelphia. She seemed ready to pick up another toy. But the 15-pound pup needed to be whisked away so that others could get their turn.
Cindy McCourt and Micki Ramos — two sisters living in Philly —collected more than 700 toys, through donations or discounted bulk purchases. Their families deliver them to local shelters in the Philly area in a sleigh-decorated trailer. Pet products company Chewy offered the sisters a discount and donated as well.
Sweet 11-year-old Charlie — who has an inoperable mass on her vulva — is up for adoption to a family who can nurture her through hospice care. As she rustled through several options, including a bendable Gumby, she barked with joy, deciding on a plush Santa doll instead.
Maddie Bernstein — a lifesaving director at one of the participating shelters — lined up the dogs in kennels and tossed a toy over to each. “It’s such a heartwarming thing.” She said of the McCourt and Ramos families, who got the idea from a similar program launched in California. “They clearly love animals.”
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer