Hearts have been melted by a video showing a 15-year-old shelter dog getting to enjoy an entire box of toys all to herself.

As the owner of Forgotten, Now Family Rescue, Chrissy Elder has worked with plenty of dogs and helped them feel comfortable before finding their forever homes. With some pups, that's come through giving them fuss or treats, but not Sallie Mae. The way to this senior Labrador's heart has got to be with toys—and plenty of them.

Elder, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, surprised Sallie Mae with an entire box of toys just for her, and the dog was "so in love and thankful" during that special moment, she told Newsweek.

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At age 15, Sallie Mae is slowing down in many ways but not when it comes to playtime. She loves nothing more than playing with toys, so it was a cherished moment to be lavished with an entire box of them.

"She is an older girly, but she's doing great. She's just so sweet, kind and thankful for everything," Elder said. "She carries the toys around with her wherever she goes, and the dragon toy is now her best friend."

Sallie Mae was previously housed in a shelter in Marion, South Carolina, but flooding from recent storms meant several of the dogs needed to be relocated.

While Sallie Mae is a new addition to Forgotten, Now Family Rescue, she has been waiting for her forever family for some time. "I know that her life has been in and out of shelters," Elder said.

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Sadly, many dogs like Sallie Mae are waiting to find a loving home. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters across the country each year, including 3.1 million dogs.

Among those, around 2 million dogs are adopted each year, and 710,000 are returned to their previous owners. But there are still many more that keep waiting.

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Shelters struggle to cope with the mass influx of animals needing their help, and many have to be euthanized. The ASPCA says 920,000 animals are put down each year. This is a decrease from previous years, which they attribute to the increase in adoptions and the number of strays who have been successfully returned.

How Did TikTokers React?

The footage of Sallie Mae enjoying her new toys was shared on TikTok (@chrissyrescuer), much to the delight of social media users. In just days, the clip has received over 23,600 views and more than 4,500 likes. Elder said it was absolutely "worth it" to spoil the senior dog in this way.

The caption under the clip reads: "Senior dogs have my heart. I can't imagine how anyone gave this angel up. She's incredible. Sallie Mae, don't worry, we will figure this out together."

There's no doubt that Sallie Mae is loving her temporary home for now, but Elder hopes the viral reaction online might lead to something more permanent for this sweet girl.

"She is still just our happy, sweet Sallie. We are still seeking fosters for dogs just like Sallie from the storm path that we evacuated," she told Newsweek.

Many TikTok users have praised Elder for lavishing the senior dog with all the toys she deserves, leading to more than 100 comments on the video.

One TikTok user commented: "I am literally crying, thank you for loving her!"

Another person responded: "You go Sallie Mae! Squeak to your hearts content."

"She's so happy. Going to sleep so good tonight," wrote one user.

Another TikToker added: "The life she's always dreamed of."

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