Many people struggle to come up with the perfect gift for their significant other, especially when it’s for a milestone birthday. But one man found a truly unique way to celebrate his wife’s 40th birthday — one that made a huge difference for the dogs at their favorite shelter.
Andrew Duhe and his wife Jennifer, of Chesapeake, Virginia, have been volunteering at Chesapeake Animal Services for the past year and a half. They are both passionate about helping the dogs find homes and also foster.
So with Jennifer’s 40th birthday coming up, Andrew knew that the perfect gift would be one that honors his wife’s compassion towards animals — and he came up with the perfect idea: paying the adoption fees of every single dog in the shelter!
“There are actually 40 dog kennels, so I thought it was fitting,” Andrew told WAVY. “40 kennels and a 40th birthday, they went hand in hand.”
Each dog had a $110 adoption fee, so Andrew paid a total of $4,400 to cover all their expenses, including microchipping, neutering and vaccines. The gift also doubled as a tribute to Sierra, one of their own pet dogs who recently passed away.
According to the Washington Post, Andrew revealed the big surprise in a birthday card after also gifting her an insulated mug. Jennifer says she “cried and cried,” before laughing when their children misunderstood and thought they were actually bringing 40 dogs home! “We all laughed about that,” Jennifer told the Post.
“I was incredibly touched that he did something on that large of a scale, knowing what matters the most to me,” Jennifer said. “It’s honestly the most sentimental and perfect gift I’ve ever gotten.”
Chesapeake Animal Services was also moved by the gesture, knowing how far it would go towards helping their dogs find homes. “We’ve never had anyone pay for so many before,” the shelter’s outreach coordinator Kasey Gallardo told the Post, explaining that the donation allowed them to bring in dogs from the overflow kennels: “For every dog adopted, you’re actually saving two,” she added.
At least 10 of the dogs Andrew paid for have been adopted from Chesapeake Animal Services so far, according to WAVY, and the couple hope that the others get adopted soon. “I wish more people would come in. I just want them all to have homes,” Jennifer told the outlet.
What an incredible way to celebrate love and compassion! Share this story to inspire others to help animals in need and honor this heartwarming birthday surprise!
