Woman Surprises Arlington Animal Services with Generous $10,000 Donation Before Christmas
By Office of Communication
Posted on December 30, 2020, December 30, 2020

Sandy, an adoptable dog at Arlington Animal Services

A woman’s generous $10,000 donation to Arlington Animal Services just before Christmas is already making it easier for heartworm-positive dogs at the shelter to find their forever homes. 

On Dec. 22, the woman stopped by the Animal Services Center and asked if the shelter was accepting donations. A shelter employee said yes, and then asked the woman if she needed help bringing in donated items from her vehicle. Instead, the woman handed over $10,000 to the employee and asked that it be used to help dogs at the shelter.

The generous donation arrived just in time for heartworm positive shelter dogs such as Sandy, a five-year-old loveable pooch who was the first beneficiary of the woman’s act of kindness. It is typically more difficult for shelter dogs who are heartworm positive to be chosen for adoption because of treatments costs, and Arlington Animal Services’ heartworm treatment grant funding had been depleted, interim Director Ray Rentschler said. Thanks to the donation, Sandy was the first of many dogs to come whose heartworm treatment will be fully sponsored, Rentschler said.

Arlington Animal Services extends its thanks to the woman, who asked to remain anonymous. The City of Arlington, which launched a Kindness Initiative in 2017, applauds those whose generosity help make The American Dream City a kinder place to live, work, play and learn.

People are encouraged to report acts of kindness that they perform, witness or were the recipient of through the City’s Ask Arlington mobile app, on the Kindness Initiative web page, or by posting on social media using #ArlingtonKindness and @CityofArlington.

Click here to read more about Acts of Kindness occurring throughout The American Dream City.


Acts of Kindness, Kindness Initiative
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