Shelter dogs receive special Thanksgiving gift, their response is adorable

A shelter in San Diego gave their rescue animals a Thanksgiving they will never forget as they were surprised with their very own “Barks-giving” meals.

While people across the country were tucking into their delicious Thanksgiving dinners yesterday, staff at the San Diego Humane Society certainly did not want their shelter dogs and cats to miss out.

But with almost 1,400 animals in their care at present, it was a big task to hand out the 350 dog meals and 50 cat meals on Thursday.

Thankfully, the shelter was helped out by Lionel’s Legacy in partnership with Lionel’s Lunchbox, who supplied countless dinners for the animals in need. A spokesperson for San Diego Humane Society told Newsweek that animals got to enjoy “turkey, green beans, ‘stuffing’ safe for the pets (included rice and sweet potatoes) and beets (for the dogs).”

So, while the cats and dogs at San Diego Humane Society’s San Diego and El Cajon campuses may have spent Thanksgiving waiting for a home, they got to enjoy a mouth-watering plate of food that made it a day to remember.

Shelter dogs enjoying their “Barks-giving” meals.

There were “plenty of tail wags” when staff delivered the fresh meals to the animals in the kennels, and there was hardly a single crumb left behind.

“This was a very special treat. The dogs devoured the food, and most ate it within seconds. While some cats hesitated, most eventually agreed that Thanksgiving meals are tasty,” staff at the shelter said.

“On a day when it would be so easy to step away, San Diego Humane Society’s team and Lionel’s Legacy chose to show up with compassion. These Thanksgiving meals remind every pet in our care that they are valued, and the remind all of us what true generosity looks like,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.

A statement from San Diego Humane Society reads: “We are grateful to Lionel’s Legacy for their generosity and continued dedication to helping senior dogs and shelter pets throughout our region.”

Lionel’s Legacy—named in honor of “Sad Lionel Boy,” a senior pittie mix foster— is a rescue organization that was founded in 2012 to provide a safe haven for homeless senior dogs in Southern California.

Rescue founder Laura Oliver went on to create Lionel’s Lunchbox, in partnership with Angela Stanger, to make healthy, wholefood meals available to any pet.

A rescue dog enjoying a special homemade meal on Thanksgiving.

With a focus on quality and healthy ingredients, each meal consists of sweet potatoes, fresh greens, carrots, grains, kelp and protein.

Meals purchased through Lionel’s Lunchbox allow the organization to continue feeding and caring for senior dogs who are part of Lionel’s Legacy.

The Thanksgiving meals appeared to go down a real treat with the shelter animals, as pictures shared by the shelter show the dogs diving straight in and even licking the plates clean. Who could blame them, after all?

Shelter staff creating the meals to hand out to rescue animals.

It was not just the dogs and cats at the San Diego Humane Society who celebrated “Barks-giving” this year however.

Lionel’s Lunchbox also visited Chula Vista Animal Services and San Diego County Department of Animal Services to provide meals to their rescue pets too.

After spending Thanksgiving in kennels this year, shelter staff hope that this time next year, many of their intakes will be able to celebrate with a loving family of their own.

Update 11/28/25, 10:51 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comments from San Diego Humane Society.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.

Related Articles