A pair of local businesses have teamed up to bring the spirit of Christmas to sheltered canines at the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society.
On Friday, Pet Valu and K9 Mobile Nails & Grooming welcomed four dogs to the Pet Valu store on Second Line West, where they taken into a room full of toys in order to pick out Christmas gifts.
Pet Valu owner Rebekah Doyon says she reached out to Mobile Nails & Grooming owner Natasha Ralph after watching a video on social media that brought her to tears.
"They brought shelter animals in and let them pick their own toys,” recalled Doyon.
“When I saw that, I shared it with Natasha and I said, ‘we have to do this for our local humane society dogs.’ So, we did — and here we are.”
All of the toys were made possible through generous donations by community members.
“We asked our friends, our family, our customers if they would like to purchase toys, and that the toys would be donated to the local humane society,” Doyon said.
Ralph also pitched in by purchasing toys through her own fundraising efforts.
“Incredible. It’s incredible to give back,” she said. “They need it more — they need us to be able to give to them.”
The remainder of the toys will be taken to the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society, where they will be distributed to pups at the shelter.
“It feels good, and it’s not just us — it’s the community, our customers, our clientele. We all get together, and we all give back,” said Doyon.
“That’s what Christmas is about.”