More than 200 donated dog beds arrived at the Miami-Dade Animal Services shelter Thursday morning.
The beds were donated by Melanie Aron, a shelter volunteer, who asked her friends and family to donate money to the shelter rather than buying her presents this year for her birthday, according to shelter staff.
A month of fundraising efforts and donations resulted in $3,700. Aron talked with the staff and decided to purchase Coolaro dog beds for every dog at the shelter. A company in California gave her a discounted price for the beds so that each kennel would be stocked.
"This is not only her birthday wish, but also a gift to the animals just in time for Christmas and the holidays," said Alex Munoz, director of the animal services department.
Staff will assemble the beds and give them to the dogs on Friday.
The Miami-Dade Animal Services Shelter takes in 36,000 animals yearly. Its goal is to find forever homes for the animals and also to reunite lost pets with their owners.
