A 6-year-old asked Santa to skip the Jasmine dress she’d wished for and prayed for her missing dogs’ return — a Christmas miracle arrived 8 days later
A little girl’s love for her pets led her to make a truly selfless wish this Christmas. On Sunday, November 30, 2025, six-year-old Rylee asked Santa not to get her the Jasmine dress she had been hoping for and instead bring back something far more important to her, her missing dogs. She spent days holding onto hope while counting down to Christmas, until a miracle took place eight days later.
As reported by Breaking News.ie on December 9, 2025, the worry began when Rylee’s one-year-old Bulldog, Lady, and eight-month-old Pug slipped through a hole in the back garden fence of the Mackey family home in Robinstown, Co Meath. Little Rylee was so heartbroken that she didn’t want any presents and only wished for her beloved pets to come back safely. The family searched tirelessly over the following days, posting on social media, asking around for help, and following every possible lead. Their efforts finally paid off when they found the dogs in a field a little over 1mile from their home.
The breakthrough came when a woman called after hearing barking in the field on Monday night, December 8. Rylee's mom, Falynn, explained, “I think it was pure chance that we got a call from a lady who heard dogs barking in a field near her home.” They couldn’t reach the dogs right away because of a river, so they had to drive across four fields to get to them. Her husband, Steve, stayed near the river, speaking to the dogs so they could hear his voice and not run off. The dogs were terrified but unharmed, and a vet confirmed they were healthy, though each had lost over six pounds.
When Rylee and her three-year-old brother Luke finally saw Lady and the Pug, they “burst into tears.” Falynn expressed, "They were just devastated for the last few weeks; we all were." Overjoyed, Rylee then told her mother, “I'm glad we got them home, Ma, and now I can ask Santa to bring me a Jasmine dress.” Falynn later added that the Jasmine costume from Aladdin was all Rylee wanted from Santa, and giving that up clearly showed the dogs meant “the world to her.”
Rylee’s Christmas wish coming true is just one example of the magic the season can bring. Across the country, other children are also experiencing the joy of receiving a long-awaited puppy. In Liberal, Kansas, Leticia Gonzalez wanted to make the holidays special for her 4-year-old twins, Luna and Gianella. So she helped them write letters to Santa, tied them to balloons, and sent them into the sky on December 1, 2020. One balloon traveled over 650 miles and was found by Alvin Bamburg in Louisiana, who opened it to see Luna’s Christmas list, which included candy, toys, and a puppy. He shared it online, and within hours, people offered donations to fulfill the wishes. Months later, Bamburg met the Gonzalez family in Oklahoma to hand over the surprises, including the puppy, named Max. Gonzalez said it was “a big surprise,” and the families celebrated together, showing how kindness from strangers can create unforgettable holiday memories.