We all love unexpected surprises, especially the kind that instantly brighten our day.
That’s exactly what happened at The Animal Rescue Center of California, based in Coachella, when they received two seemingly ordinary boxes at their office—only to discover the most delightful contents inside.
As soon as the first box was opened, the room was filled with smiles. Inside were tiny baby kittens, huddled together and in need of care. Without hesitation, one of the staff members reached out to a trusted foster, an elderly woman named Dani, who was already waiting for them at the nearby Cat Clinic, just 30 minutes away.
Dani, a seasoned kitten foster, sprang into action. She fed the hungry babies right away and began nurturing them with the tender care they so badly needed.
The team at the rescue center was thrilled—but little did they know, even more joy was waiting in the second box.
An Adorable Surprise Inside
When it came time to open the second package, the team had a feeling they were in for something special. As the flaps opened, they were met with the heart-melting sight of a tiny puppy curled up inside.
It was a six-week-old Chihuahua mix they later named Griffin. He had been rescued from a field in Thermal, weighing just 2.75 pounds—drastically underweight and covered in ticks.
The team immediately cleaned him up and gave him a soothing bath to rid him of the parasites. Then, they made sure he had a good meal, and slowly, his personality began to emerge.
Despite his small size, Griffin proved to be a lively and spirited pup. He quickly bonded with the other dogs at the rescue—even though most of them were much larger than him.
He formed a particularly sweet friendship with Mackenzie, a gentle 75-pound Staffordshire mix who was just eight months old. The two became inseparable playmates.
The rescue center shared an adorable video of the duo, titled “Two Puppies, Two Different Sizes.”
“Both of these ARC puppies were found on the street and are now thriving. Mackenzie is the last puppy of The Coachella 6 and she is playing big sis to our latest rescue, Griffin, who we believe to be about 6 weeks old. Enjoy some puppy love!” they wrote on Facebook.
Griffin quickly became a fan favorite at ARC. He had everything he needed—love, care, friends—and all that was missing now was a forever home.
A New Beginning For Griffin
Not long after, a woman named Susan, who had recently moved from Michigan to Coachella to be closer to her children, stumbled upon Griffin’s almond butter video posted by the rescue center.
Though she had settled into her new home and found work, she still felt something was missing. As a lifelong dog lover, she knew what it was—a furry companion.
The moment she watched Griffin’s video, she knew he was the one. She reached out to the rescue, and before long, a special “box of joy” was on its way—this time to her home.
“As soon as we put Griffin in Susan’s arms we knew he was going to love this family and there is no doubt that they love him. welcome home, Griffin,” ARC wrote in their Facebook post.
Griffin brought happiness to everyone who met him—from the moment he peeked out of that cardboard box to the first time he snuggled into Susan’s arms. Now, he’s ready to enjoy a lifetime of surprises—this time from his loving forever family.
Because a little pup like Griffin deserves nothing less.