Owner’s Perspective
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and I had decided to spend a lazy day on the porch, sipping my coffee, and throwing a couple of squeaky toys for Buster. It was the perfect opportunity for some downtime and, possibly, a break from my guilt. I mean, who could resist the sound of a happy dog barking and squeaking with joy? That’s what I told myself. That’s what I told my husband. That’s what I whispered to my conscience that was still hissing, “BETRAYER” at me.

You see, I’d purchased a pack of three squeaky toys from The Hungry Puppy the other day, and Buster had fallen in love immediately. He’s a retriever, after all, and a squeaky toy is like an IV drip of joy to his little canine heart. But as fate would have it, while playing last evening, one of the squeakers broke. So, we were down to two – but that’s okay, right? Patience is a virtue, and I was just teaching Buster to imbibe it (if I keep repeating this to myself, it starts feeling less like betrayal).

The neighbor’s dog, a cheeky little terrier, came trotting over, looking at Buster and his toy with envy. Thinking myself the friendly neighbor, I offered him the last unplayed squeaky toy. The moment I tossed it, I saw the colour drain from Buster’s face. The squeaky toy I thought would bring joy was now a missile on a path to betrayal. He looked at me with wide eyes, his tail stopped wagging. A deflated squeak from his soft bite on his last possessed toy seemed to echo the betrayal he felt.

I felt like the worst dog owner in the world. I had lobbed not just a squeaky toy, but also a heart filled with hope, happiness, and trust, straight into the neighbor’s yard. I had broken a sacred rule—never give away a squeaky toy.

Buster’s Betrayed Barks
I sat there all morning, waiting for it. The moment she brought out my squeaky toy, I could barely contain my excitement. CAN YOU BLAME ME? Can you imagine the RELIEF when the first toy broke and I knew there was a spare? The thought warmed my heart in a way only a squeaky toy can.

I looked up just in time to see it. The arcing trajectory of betrayal. My precious squeaky toy, my backup joy, my squishy little happiness, flying across the yard into the paws of the neighbor’s dog. I could barely believe it. Of all the things to share, a squeaky toy? A SQUEAKY TOY? MY squeaky toy? TRAITOR!

My trusty toy, a beacon of happiness, was now a beacon of betrayal. I sat there, my jaw hanging open in disbelief at the audacity. Then, with all my doggy dignity, I turned my back to the scene of horror, tucked my tail, and walked away – but not before giving a long, heartbroken sigh to let her know the depth of my disappointment.

Crisis Averted
As I’m watching Buster’s slumped back retreating towards the doggy door, I couldn’t help but feel my heart break. I knew what I had to do. I yelled out, “Buster, come here, boy!” and saw his ears perk up. I grabbed my keys, looked him in the eye, and said, “We’ve got a squeaky toy emergency, buddy. We better go fix it.”

We made a quick trip to The Hungry Puppy. They’ve always got a wide selection of squeaky toys and it’s Buster’s dreamland. We walked out with, like, three different squeaky toys, shaped like an alligator, a bone and a cute little duck. Buster’s tail didn’t stop wagging the entire time.

The moment we got home, Buster spared no time. He was jumping, throwing, sprinting, and more than anything, SQUEAKING with joy. The treachery was forgotten. The neighbor’s dog was a forgotten friend. All that mattered was his new toy – squeaky, bouncy, and HIS.

Crisis averted. Neighbor’s dog forgotten. Dog no longer hates me (And I’ve learned not to be a squeaky toy philanthropist.)

Visit The Hungry Puppy for all your emergency squeaky toy needs — because our dogs’ happiness is worth it. Free local delivery available, or just pop in and treat your pup to a heavenly visit!

• 🦴 Every toy you could dream of, for seekers, chewers and hoarders
• 🚀 Express delivery — for those emergency toy situations
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog people too.