Killing Plush Toys
Cinnamon decided that several stuffed plush toys needed to die today. I have no idea what these inanimate objects could possibly have done to offend this eight year old Dalmation. Clearly the green frog was the worst offender. Perhaps it was it’s hiding out under the couch. Perhaps it was that our other Dalmation, Baxter, got it to squeek out of turn. I noticed the homicide when the frog flew across the room with Cinnamon growling at it. She then tossed it back and ran after it again. When she finally caught up with it she had to bite it numerous times. If stuffing started coming out she put a paw on it and started pulling out the rest of the stuffing.
Normally, Cinnamon kills her stuffed toys heads first. There are several toys laying around in disaray missing eyes and mouths. I understand that sometimes when cats or birds wander near the sliding glass door and she can’t get to them, that something needs to be sacrificed and a plush toy fulfills that need. I understand that when Baxter takes her coveted space on the bed, that something needs to help her manage that frustration. I just don’t know why she chooses the frog or the chipmunk as opposed to the purple elephant, the animals that make animal sounds, the cats, the birds, or the hundreds of other plush animals she has available to destroy. What makes the frog or the chipmunk so special?
I got her a couple of cat toys that look like wildlife, some mice and rats made in suede, some toys with openings for catnip that were easy to add squeekers to. Baxter found them amusing for a day or so. Cinnamon wasn’t interested except when Baxter wanted them.
The best place I found stuffed animals has been at Albertson’s market. These are children’s toys with a sack of pellets in them that can easily be removed and replaced with squeekers. I’ve gotten several cats and dogs from there for about $5.00 each. Comparable plush toys at large pet stores range from $10.00 to $12.00. I also found out that Build-A-Bear Company sells the types of squeekers that make music or noises separately. I can add a variety of squeekers. Of course, with a sewing machine I can make plush toys from remnant fabrics for the dogs as well.
Plush toys can survive a kill or two. More than three total kills or a full head or face removal and it gets to be too much for a simple repair. The frog is starting to bite the dust. It won’t be too long for the chipmunk.
Tonight Cinnamon is asleep with her paw on the frog. It’s missing part of it’s face. She’s very happy and running in her dreams. Maybe she’s still chasing the frog.
