Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and giving back – and at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, that spirit shines brighter than ever.
This year, the shelter isn’t just serving a special holiday feast to the hundreds of animals already in their care—they’re also celebrating a new group of rescues with an incredible story of survival.
For these animals, Thanksgiving isn’t just a meal—it’s a celebration of second chances.
“Oh, it means everything. I mean, even now, I’m going to get teared up. People always say, like, does it get easier? After five years of being here, it does, but then it doesn’t,” said Alecia Kieri with Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Just last week, the shelter rescued 24 animals from a heartbreaking stretch of farmland in South Miami known as “Dead Dog Alley.” It’s a place where abandoned pets are left to fend for themselves, often with little hope of survival.
“Instead of dumping them off on the side of the road or out in the country, we will take them,” said Sofia Gruszecki with Peggy Adams.
The rescue effort was made possible through a partnership with Eddy’s Dogs Animal Sanctuary. Together, they brought 15 dogs, three puppies, and six kittens to safety.
Each year, Peggy Adams cares for over 35,000 animals, providing food, shelter, and lifesaving medical care. Many of the pets rescued from Dead Dog Alley arrived in desperate need of those services.
“It puts our mission into perspective when we say, together, we can save lives, because that is absolutely what we’re doing,” Kieri said.
This Thanksgiving, the shelter treated all 200 animals in their care to something extra special: a holiday meal of chicken, fruits, and veggies—a festive celebration of the new lives they’ve been given.
“This is what I love to do. I love to see them getting their meals and stuff like that. So I’m very thankful to be here today with them,” Kieri said.
For staff and volunteers, moments like these make the holidays unforgettable.
“This will be the highlight of my Thanksgiving, for sure,” Gruszecki added.
