Hearts Melt Over Shelter Dogs Choosing Their Own Presents For Christmas

For dogs with homes, Christmas is a happy time full of treats and cuddles—but those who live in shelters may never know what that means.

However, a dog rescue has melted hearts all over the internet after sharing a video of their pooches excitedly choosing their own presents for Christmas. The clip has unsurprisingly gone viral on social media.

In the heartwarming clip, shared on TikTok Monday under the username fetcherdog, the shelter dogs can be seen one by one running into a pile of toys and choosing their favorite ones as Christmas gifts.

The clip came with a caption explaining: "Letting the dogs at the rescue center pick their own Christmas presents!"

Dogs love toys, but you need to buy the right ones. The first thing to do when getting your dog a toy is to ensure it is the right size for them, as a toy that is too small can end up being swallowed, posing a choking hazard.

You should also make sure any toys you buy for them are specifically made for dogs, this will ensure they will resist their rough play without tearing up and releasing harmful chemicals. You can read Newsweek's full list of the best toys for your dog here.

Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 8.3 million views and 1.1 million likes on the platform.

One user, Sarah O'Brien, commented: "The two fighting over the same toy are sending me." And DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE said: "I wonder what it is that appeals to them why they pick that particular toy."

John Doe wrote: "Thought the first one was going to take off with that tail." And Helen Elizabeth added: "My old Jack Russell would have gone straight for a unicorn, he always chose them."

Newsweek reached out to fetcherdog for comment via TikTok chat. We could not verify the details of the case.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.