At FLUFFY, we receive many messages from people who have made stuffed animals for us.
Among them, "I took the stuffed animal I bought on a trip."
"Just like my beloved dog when he was alive, I take him in the car and take him to his favorite places."
We also receive reports like this.
I myself only recently purchased a car and have not yet had much experience taking long trips with my dog, so it was a refreshing surprise to me as I had never thought of the idea of the stuffed animal I had given them being taken out with me.
In the midst of all this, I received an email from someone that really made an impact, so I would like to share it here.
The person had always loved traveling, and would take their medium-sized dog in their car to various places to play.
In addition to camping, there are now more and more hotels that allow dogs to stay, so she says she loves going out (or maybe she just loves riding in the car...^^) and enjoys traveling with the whole family, including her dog.
However, the dog grew old and one day fell ill and passed away.
Losing a beloved dog who was an irreplaceable partner and an important member of the family was more painful than one could imagine, and for a while everyone in the family felt heartbroken.
A few months later, I was finally ready to accept the farewell.
It was a pleasant season with warm sunshine. 
In normal years, it would be normal for the whole family to go on a trip together (including the dog, of course)...
The person seemed to be wondering not "Where should I go this year" but "What should I do this year?"
"Now that everyone is finally looking forward, I want to go on a trip, eat some delicious food, and have a relaxing, fun time with my family."
While he felt that way, at the same time he also felt bad that he was "leaving her behind."
The child who always accompanied us on trips is not here, so I wonder if the whole family will be able to have fun without him?
Even if he could, he felt like he would forget about her and have fun, which would make him feel guilty.
When I heard that, I was shocked to realize that I really understood how that person felt.
The dog in the sky said, "I'm always watching over you, so come and have fun together."
I thought that even though my dog would surely be watching over me with warmth, I might feel a certain guilt about enjoying the trip without him. 
However, after some hesitation, the person decided to go on a trip with his family.
Bring a stuffed animal.
They put the dog's stuffed animal in the back seat as usual and drove off as a family to a scenic spot, ate some delicious food, and talked about memories of their dog before returning home.
When I heard that, I felt like I had reaffirmed why I continue doing this work. 
The person found out about FLUFFY on the internet.
After some hesitation, he ordered the stuffed animal, decided on the travel dates and destination, made all the necessary reservations, and while he was waiting for the day to arrive, he still had feelings of uncertainty, wondering if it was really okay.
However, when they received the plush toy and held it in their arms, they felt that this was the right choice after all.
And on the day of the trip, the weather was beautifully sunny.
The whole family got into the car excited, put the stuffed animal in its usual seat, and set off.
When she looked back and saw her son's stuffed toy in the back seat, she said she felt a strange sense of security.
She plans to continue enjoying her favorite travels without hesitation and make memories with her dog and family one by one.
I'm sure the dog in the sky will be enjoying his family's trip. I'm sure they are watching over you with peace of mind...
No, maybe we'll be riding in the car together, feeling excited.
