There’s nothing like the bond between a child and his puppy! A puppy’s unconditional love is something that every child should experience, especially those going through hardships in life at such an early age. The loving, steady companionship of a puppy can give hope, comfort, and support to children going through the toughest situations of their lives.
Here at Pawrade, we understand the joy the puppy can bring to children, both socially and emotionally. We’ve been honored to work with various Make-A-Wish® chapters in the past to be an integral part of a child's treatment journey with the unconditional love only a puppy can give.
Since 1986, Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley has fulfilled more than 3,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses in the Hudson Valley, NY region. Past wishes they have granted include a trip to Disney World and Hawaii, online shopping sprees, meeting celebrities, and becoming a pop star for a day.
During the pandemic, children found themselves limited to wishes that would not compromise their health, keeping their germ exposure greatly reduced in order to remain as healthy as possible, so pet ownership was a popular wish request.
In October 2021, Pawrade once again helped grant a special wish for a very deserving bright, young teenager in cancer remission named Juan Alonso to help Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley celebrate their 3,000th wish in style.
Ever since Juan found out he had cancer and throughout his treatments, he dreamed of a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy by his side. His mother brought him to New York to receive the very best treatment and relayed his wish to the Foundation. With careful planning, Pawrade partnered with worked Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley to make Juan’s wish come true as a total surprise for him!
Courtney Dean, Pawrade's Director of Social Engagement, hand-delivered Kai to Juan and his mother. Courtney said helping grant Juan's wish was one of the "most magical moments of my life and is such an inspirational story."
With Juan unaware of the upcoming party, Pawrade connected his mother with a beautiful yellow Labrador Retriever, asking any questions over Zoom calls with the breeder and watching the puppy grow until it arrived in Juan’s loving arms.
A team of businesses and volunteers tirelessly worked together to provide an amazing surprise party where Juan met his puppy for the first time. The smile on his face says it all! Juan named his dream puppy Kai, and they became instant friends. There was not a dry eye in the house as everyone witnessed such a special, magical, life-changing moment!
Kai the Yellow Labrador Retriever snuggles into his new bed with Juan Alonzo and the team who made his wish possible.
While Pawrade was proud to bring such joy to Juan and his mother, we were not alone in our efforts to make the 3000th wish such a magical experience. Juan and his mother enjoyed a puppy kit goody box from Chewy, training from Gentle Paws K9 Training, personalized treats from Cookie Girl Bake Shop, a basket of pet supplies from Bark & Meow, support from Petland, and a stylish ride from Silver Star Limousine, not to mention other treats, presents, decorations, and swag bags.
In addition, Pawrade’s 3-year health guarantee was in full effect from the day of delivery, and we followed up with additional support to see if things were going well. We are happy to report that Kai has brought so much healing to Juan and his mother, a world of difference compared to when Juan experienced his cancer treatments. Juan and his mother say that Kai is the “greatest puppy,” loves walks to the park, and brings them so much joy they didn’t realize they were missing.
We look forward to helping our partner Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley grant many more puppy wishes! Join us as we help them celebrate their 35th year and 3,000th wish with a charitable gift this holiday season. With every dollar donated, you partner with us as we continue to provide hope, strength, and joy to children like Juan Alonso.
