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The Joys of Toys

From birds to bunnies, all critters love to play

By Elizabeth Doyle

When is a toy more than just a toy? When it helps an animal come out of her shell, use her brain power, or become the "person" she was meant to be.

At Best Friends, animals don't just have their basic needs met  they really have a good time! And the members who donate toys to the animals each year are a huge part of what makes the animals' lives here so special.

Today, Willie (pictured) looks like any dog playing with his ball. There's something so natural about seeing him leap for it. That's what dogs should do! But only a few months ago, you wouldn't have recognized his sad face. And you wouldn't have seen him playing with a ball.

Willie is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the property of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick. At first, none of these former fighting dogs wanted to play. It wasn't until they began to relax that some of them  like Willie  started to take an interest in something as frivolous, and as natural, as games.

For dogs who have suffered trauma, playing with toys is a sign that they're starting the healing process. Toys can bridge the gap between a dog and the human who's holding the toy. And toys can even help redirect undesirable behavior  for example, teaching a dog to chew on a Kong instead of a sofa.

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