Sometimes, even wild animals need a bit of kindness. They may know how to fend for themselves in nature, but there are moments when a gentle hand and a touch of compassion mean everything.
No one understands this better than LouAnne Brickhouse, an animal lover from Los Angeles, California, who has made it her mission to be there for wildlife in need.
She always seems to know how to comfort them and give them exactly what they require at the right time.
A few years back, one of her trail cameras picked up an unexpected visitor wandering near her home. What LouAnne saw that day was the beginning of something extraordinary.
Her Favorite Stuffies
At first glance, LouAnne thought a stray dog had wandered into her yard. But when she looked closer, she realized it was actually a female coyote lingering outside her home.
Most people would have panicked or tried to chase her away. LouAnne, however, did the opposite.
Understanding that the coyote seemed exhausted, she decided to let her rest in peace. She even gave the wild visitor a name: Stevie.
Wanting to bring her comfort, LouAnne did something unusual. Though Stevie wasn’t a pet dog, LouAnne placed a few stuffed toys in the yard for her.
Stevie’s reaction proved just how right that decision was. She immediately grew attached to the toys, treating them like her personal treasures. LouAnne was touched to see how much joy the simple gift brought her.
While Stevie didn’t stay in LouAnne’s yard permanently, she kept returning to spend time with her beloved toys.
Sometimes, she would play with them; other times, she would simply lay her head down and nap on their soft fabric.
What amazed LouAnne most was Stevie’s respect for the toys.
“Unlike our dogs, she has never ripped the [stuffie], and she never takes it with her,” Brickhouse wrote on her Instagram profile. “It’s always somewhere to be found on the balcony.”
As days went by, LouAnne continued to leave toys for her wild friend, who greeted each one with tail-wagging excitement.
To share the touching moments, she began posting videos of Stevie and her stuffed companions online, quickly winning over hearts everywhere.
Two Lovely Souls
Before long, Stevie wasn’t the only coyote enjoying LouAnne’s backyard. She soon brought along a companion, a male coyote LouAnne named Jack.
The two became inseparable, spending much of their time together. Even then, Stevie never abandoned her toys, often carrying them with her or keeping them nearby as she played with Jack.
For LouAnne, the stuffed toys became symbolic, not just of Stevie’s happiness, but of the deeper truth that wild animals also have tender hearts.
They may live untamed lives, but they too long to play, to love, and to feel joy. And thanks to LouAnne’s generosity, the world got to witness a glimpse of that side of them.