BROOKHAVEN, NY— A dog brought back to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter in June has found her forever family — after an outpouring of love on her birthday that brought more than 500 cards from across the country and the world.

Truffles, according to huge-hearted animal shelter volunteer Valerie Sanks of Rocky Point, who organized all the festivities, was brought back to the shelter “through no fault of her own,” and to cheer up the sweet-faced dog, Sanks set out to give her a 10th birthday party the four-footed pup would never forget.

Sanks turned to social media to ask for cards for Truffles; she also organized a birthday party for Truffles and a sleepover for the homeless senior dog at a hotel. Sanks has long imbued the lives of shelter dogs with caring, taking dogs from the Southold, Brookhaven and Riverhead shelters and transporting them to hotels for a night of snuggling and fun.

And this week, Sanks announced that Truffles, after being moved to the SPCA Jefferson County, had found the best birthday gift of all — her forever family.

It all started with Sanks, a volunteer with a heart of pure puppy gold, who set out to give Truffles the party of a lifetime.

She put out a call on social media for cards, and more than 500 came pouring in, from 46 states across America, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, England, Poland, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.

Truffles, who was originally adopted from the Brookhaven Shelter in 2013, was sadly brought back to the shelter this year. When Truffles saw Sanks again, after she was brought back to the shelter: “She remembered me like it was yesterday,” Sanks said. “She greeted me with kisses.”

Sanks had given the dog a birthday party at the shelter in the past — and decided to organize another fun-filled event.

Truffles, she said, has allergies, so can have only have specially prescribed treats; she is not a fan of toys. That’s why cards were the perfect gift, she said. “We decided to do a princess theme and I booked the hotel room,” and put out the call on Facebook for birthday cards filled with love.

(Valerie Sanks)

Sanks also reached out to animal advocate and photograph Sophie Gamand who also made the appeal on social media for cards.

(Sophie Gamand)

The huge response came from all corners, Sanks said. One group of kids at a summer camp sent 100 hand-made cards.

Sanks printed a map of the United States and marked in green the states where cards had been sent from; she updated Truffles’ supporters with progress made on the “Blankets for Buster”Facebook page.

“People started tagging friends from states that were missing,” she said.

The hotel sleepover was planned for Sept. 2.

In the days leading up to the party, Sanks took Truffles for car rides, where she sang to her, talked to her, and cuddled with her. When Truffles fell asleep, Sanks just pet her gently and let her get peaceful rest.

“Truffles,” she said, had a amazing time at her princess birthday party sleepover. “She walked into that room and I told her to come up on the couch. She jumped up and was so happy. Then she went to the bed, rolling around — this 10-year-old senior dog was acting like a puppy,” she said.

Sanks decorated the room while Truffles watched from her king-sized hotel bed. Guests arrived, and Sanks read every one of the hundreds of cards that had been sent. Truffles’ cake, she said, was made out of her regular canned dog food, molded into the shape of a bone.

(Valerie Sanks)

“There were so many stories of shelter dogs or cats that lived in a shelter or a rescue; some even sent photos — but all with the same message: ‘Don’t give up hope. A family is out there,'” Sanks said.

(Valerie Sanks)

Sanks even posted the party on Facebook Live, “but most of the time Truffles was sleeping, sometimes even snoring,” she laughed.

Other shelter volunteers relaxed with Truffles and showed her the cards. “Truffles loves children so one of the volunteers went to pick up her daughter; when Truffles saw her daughter walk into the room, she was beyond happy!” she said.

(Valerie Sanks)

And when the birthday candles were blown out, Truffles’ birthday wish came true: A home to call her own.

After the party, Truffles went to a “wonderful, smaller shelter, SPCA Jefferson, she said.

“They are a wonderful shelter,” she said. “We knew Truffles would find a amazing, loving home soon but we didn’t know she would find one after only being there a week. The staff and volunteers at Brookhaven are so happy for her. We are all waiting for the family photo!”

(Valerie Sanks)