A new puppy can turn a good Christmas into the perfect Christmas.
Candice Farrell, owner of Red Deer Goldendoodle breeding business Ooodles of Doodles, and Red Deer blogger Meg Tucker drove to three Alberta communities this past weekend to donate puppies to families with children who suffer from health problems.
“It was pretty amazing,” Farrell said after bringing a puppy to the first family in Okotoks. “They were so surprised and just absolutely thrilled.”
The Okotoks family’s five-year-old son Honor was born with defects requiring multiple surgeries. He has already had four procedures and is scheduled to have forehead reconstruction surgery in February.
Farrell said a puppy can mean a lot to a family.
“They can provide love and emotional support during tough times,” she said. “It gives the kids and families a buddy who’s there for them all the time.”
This is the second year Ooodles of Doodles has donated puppies for Christmas. But this is the first year Tucker has been involved.
Earlier this year, Albertans nominated families who deserve, and are in the position to support, a puppy. Tucker said the plan was to give away just one puppy, but three nominations were deserving.
“All these families have wonderful, unique, heartwarming and heartbreaking story. All three families have children with medical challenges, and the thing at the top of their Christmas lists was a puppy,” she said.
The other families were in Calgary and at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.
In addition to receiving a puppy, the families were provided with many other necessities to take care of a dog, including a leash, a crate, a collar and more.
Tucker said Farrell is one of the most generous people she knows.
“She doesn’t want people to have to get in the car and go to a store. She wants to give the families the entire package. I don’t know very many people like her. She’s a gem.
“We want to spread some Christmas cheer to families who may need it,” Tucker said. “This is the true holiday spirit. It’s truly from the heart and I couldn’t be happier and more proud to tag along for this.”
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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