Husband surprises wife with pet adoption center

John Breslow of Scottsdale, Arizona wanted to give his wife Sonia the gift of a lifetime for her 60th birthday. He knew she had a love for dogs and a passion for no-kill shelters, so he approached the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA (AAWL) to see if they needed support.

On Saturday, the gift he had managed to keep secret for more than two years was revealed when a black tarp dropped from the front of a just-finished building. Large blue letters spelled out Sonia Breslow Adoption Center, which will house more than 150 homeless dogs and cats.

"I can't believe this is all for me; this is overwhelming," said a teary-eyed Sonia, a lifetime animal lover.

The new space will allow the organization, which rescues animals facing euthanasia at area shelters, to place about 6,000 dogs and cats annually, double the number it places now, said Judith Gardner, AAWL executive director.

The 12,000-square-foot, $3 million freestanding facility would not have been possible without the $2 million donation from Sonia's husband.

“These type of organizations need to have a no-kill policy. I’ve spent the last two years listening to her talk about it. I knew this present would be over the top,” Mr. Breslow said.

Sources: www.azcentral.com and www.abc15.com 
Image by Pat Shanahan/The Arizona Republic