I Saved My Dog’s Favorite Toy! 🐶❤
Teddy, my golden retriever, has dozens of toys — balls, squeaky pigs, chew ropes — but none compare to his absolute favorite: a floppy stuffed duck named Mr. Squeakers. It’s old, a little grimy, and missing one eye, but Teddy loves it more than anything in the world. He takes it everywhere — to bed, to the door when guests arrive, even on walks if I let him. Mr. Squeakers is his best friend.
One afternoon, while I was rushing to clean up the house, I scooped up some laundry and a few toys off the floor without thinking. Into the washing machine they went. I closed the lid, hit “start,” and walked away. A few minutes later, I noticed Teddy pacing around the laundry room, looking anxious. He gave me a small whimper and stared at the machine.
Then I heard it — a faint squeak and a dull thud from inside the washer. My heart dropped.
I rushed over, yanked the machine open mid-cycle, and there it was: Mr. Squeakers, soaking wet and tangled in a sweatshirt, looking like a soggy mess. Teddy let out the saddest sound I’ve ever heard. I promised him, “Don’t worry, I’ll fix it.”
I wrapped Mr. Squeakers in a towel and carefully dried him off. The stuffing was uneven, the fabric was worn, and worst of all, the squeaker was silent. I grabbed a needle and thread and patched up the torn seams as best I could. Then I took out the hair dryer and gently dried the duck until it was warm, fluffy, and — miraculously — the squeaker worked again!
When I handed Mr. Squeakers back to Teddy, his tail went wild. He grabbed it in his mouth, did a happy little dance around the living room, and then flopped on the rug, squeaking it proudly.
That night, he curled up in bed, snuggled tight with his freshly repaired duck. It may have taken a little time and effort, but seeing Teddy that happy again was worth every stitch and squeaky test. I didn’t just save a toy — I saved a piece of my dog’s heart. 🐾💛
