Mom Treats Her Dog To A Custom Piñata That’s Filled With Tennis Balls

Jul 04, 2020

What's a birthday party without a piñata? While a traditional candy (or treat) filled piñata may not be in your dog's best interest, it doesn't mean they can't have fun too. One dog from Illinois, Bridget, had the time of her life at her owner's socially-distanced birthday party this May when they surprised her with a piñata full of tennis balls.

If you've ever owned a dog, you're used to the idea that once your dog finds a tennis ball, you'll be throwing it for the next three years. More often than not, if you take your dog to the park to play fetch, you'll wear yourself out before they're ready to stop playing. According to Bridget's mom, playing with a tennis ball is one of her favorite things in the world.

That's what inspired her to give Bridget her tennis ball filled piñata. Her owner told Viral Hog that she adopted Bridget from Partners for Pets in Troy, Illinois. She had been in and out of foster homes and shelters for nearly three years before coming home with her mother. So while it may have been Bridget's owner's birthday, they were celebrating together. "I wanted her to have a very special first birthday with me," her owner told VH.

Due to the coronavirus, the duo postponed their birthday plans temporarily. Once they were able, however, Bridget's mom set Bridget up with her awesome surprise. After getting her attention and sitting her in front of the piñata, she threw the tennis ball for Bridget. This ball was attached to the string that held the piñata together. When Bridget caught the ball, a dozen tennis balls fell to the ground.

After just a moment of confusion and surprise, Bridget instantly got excited. She didn't know where to turn first. She watched a few of the balls roll across the concrete and chose to chase after one. As soon as she grabbed one, another rolled in front of her, and she went after it. For a moment, you can see her pause with her front paws spread, as if hoping to gather her tennis balls in one place.

Bridget may as well have been in doggy heaven. She may not have been able to gather all of the tennis balls in one place, and she clearly couldn't fit them all in her mouth, but that wouldn't stop her from trying. Her owner nudged additional tennis balls in her direction, making Bridget immediately change direction.

From the moment the balls hit the ground, Bridget was excited. In those first few seconds, she was confused. Once the first of the tennis balls hit the ground, though, she knew what to do. The entire time, her tail was wagging. Bridget's owner had wanted to make her "first birthday" a special one, and it's obvious that she went above and beyond.

Even the audience members enjoyed watching Bridget's enthusiastic reaction, laughing, and commenting about how excited she was. They also observed her momentary confusion, surprise, and excitement as she realized just how many balls there were. And, of course, we all saw how she struggled to decide which of the tennis balls to follow.

Let us know what you think about this adorable birthday surprise. Would you do something like this for your dog? We're sure everyone's heart melted watching Bridget try to decide which ball to chase next.