One of the most popular toys given as gifts is a stuffed toy. Stuffed toys come in different sizes and shapes. It can be a child’s best friend. Furthermore, it can also calm an anxious child.
Stuffed toys are also a popular item to be sold on fundraising events. Operation ResCUTE sells stuffed toys that look like rescue dogs, aiming to teach children about the love and care of dogs in the shelter.
Each stuffed toy sold by Operation ResCute comes with a book that tells the story of a particular rescue dog.
Operation ResCUTE started when Laurie Brown-Nagin adopted Jingles, a dog found by a New York City Animal Control Officer. Jingles was seen curled beside a trashcan seeking warmth. When Laurie saw Jingles, she immediately fell in love with her and decided to bring her home.
Laurie works as a marketing researcher, and she was shocked to discover that only 30% of pets are adopted from shelters and rescue organizations. She also found out that around 2.7 million pets still remain unadopted at shelters.
Laurie wants to educate and encourage people, especially young children, to think about adopting shelter dogs instead of buying a pet. She desires to improve the condition of the dogs living in the shelter.
Thus, Operation ResCUTE was born.
The first set of stuffed toys offered by Operation ResCUTE includes Jingles, Tanner (Laurie’s other dog), and Hudson, the Railroad Puppy.
In 2012, Hudson and his two dog siblings were found with their paws nailed to a railroad track. Hudson and his two siblings were found to have malnutrition, infected wounds, and dehydration. Sadly, they were found a bit late; one of the pups passed away, the other has lost its two toes, and Hudson has lost his left rear paw.
Luckily, Hudson was able to find a forever home and became a therapy dog. He is continuing to inspire millions of people with his story of hope and survival.
Another good thing about Operation ResCUTE is that 100% of the profit goes to the shelters.
Operation ResCUTE stuffed toys are indeed an excellent way to instill the love and care for shelter dogs who need a family to adopt them.
Be inspired by the stories of Jingles, Tanner, and Hudson by buying these stuffed toys!
Photos courtesy of Operation Rescute, Inc. via Facebook