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When we offered him a stuffed toy, he just stared at us, confused. We squeaked it in front of his face, waved it around, trying to show him how much fun it could be. He watched us with curiosity, but we couldn’t get through to him that we were giving him something. It broke our hearts a little to realize that he’d never had a toy before.

We almost gave up, leaving the toys and bones where he could find them.

Then, after a few weeks, Zot picked up one of the stuffed animals and gave it a little squeak. Then another. Then he brought it to us and invited us to play with him. It was beautiful watching him discover play. Zot went on to become one of the best dogs we’ve ever had, and I like to think those stuffed animals played a small part in welcoming him into our family and home, a place where he was safe and loved until his very last breath. Whether you’re a child sleeping with your stuffed animal or gathering your stuffed students under the dining room table for a lesson, or a dog learning for the first time that a plush toy can be yours, stuffed animals offer comfort and companionship. They ask nothing of us except to be held, and sometimes, that’s really all we need.

BOOST GRANT – Rural Roots Beauty Bar received a Boost Grant from the Lyons Main Street Association to help alleviate some of the costs of renovating their location. L to R: Lyons Mayor Willis NeSmith Jr., Cecilia Ramirez, Alyssa Willis, Casey Williams, Jennifer Brown, Jamie Elizabeth, Lyons Community Development Director Jessica Barfield, Lyons City Manager Jason Hall.