A Couple Drives Around With a Stuffed Giraffe in Their Car; Here’s Why They Are Doing It

They’ve been doing this for 15 years, and they’re still going strong. When Sally and Larry McNabb leave their house, people line up to take selfies with their stuffed giraffe. But beyond what might seem a bit unusual, the McNabbs have a special purpose that really resonates with anyone who hears their story.

Almost 15 years ago, Sally McNabb was giving her daughter’s room a makeover and got herself a massive stuffed giraffe that was supposed to complete the decoration of the space.

As she opened it in her garage, she casually positioned the stuffed giraffe in the car’s backseat. The whole setup struck her as hilariously odd, so without thinking twice, with the giraffe in the backseat, she took it for a spin around her Colorado Springs neighborhood.

The sight of that oversized plush companion cruising through the streets brought not only a chuckle to Sally’s face, but also spread smiles to anyone lucky enough to witness such a quirky, spontaneous ride. It was just proof that life’s simplest joys often come from the most unexpected and lighthearted moments.

As Sally recalls those moments, she says, “The kids in the neighborhood were all laughing and waving and jumping and just having a blast seeing this silly giraffe in the backseat. That’s how it started.” She added, “The next day, I drove it to work, and the reactions I got from people in the cars were just really funny. They were rolling down the windows and waving or taking pictures of it, and the rest is kind of history.”

When his wife took the giant giraffe on a quirky neighborhood joyride, Larry, who’s a plumber, wasn’t too sure about having this colossal stuffed giraffe as their road buddy in the backseat. “I said, ’Sally we’re not driving around town with a giraffe in the car,’ and she goes, ’You’ve just got to try it. Try it one time.’” He continued, “We drove up the main boulevard in town, and as she said, the people were laughing and smiling, so I was hooked. It brings so much joy to people, and they laugh and smile.”

Nowadays, that giraffe isn’t just a stuffed animal to them. It’s their buddy “Sprinkles” who keeps everyone smiling. “He’s here to sprinkle happiness,” Sally says. “He gives people an unexpected reason to smile.”

Whenever the McNabbs are out and about, they often run into people waiting in parking lots, all set to snap selfies with their huge giraffe pal. Some curious folks have even tailed the couple home just to chat about their unique backseat friend. That’s why the couple loves to dress up Sprinkles for the holidays, like with reindeer antlers and a shiny Rudolph nose for Christmas.

One truly heartwarming memory they cherish is when, while waiting at a red light, a family who had just attended a funeral rolled down their car window to express their sincere gratitude. Through teary eyes and smiles, they told Sally, “We have been crying nonstop for 3 days. And today is the first day we’ve smiled.”

In their trusty 2001 Ford Mustang, they’ve embarked on open-top adventures with Sprinkles helping them in ways they couldn’t even imagine. Thus, Sally openly shares that she has fought with depression throughout her life, but the simple act of spreading joy through Sprinkles has had a profound impact on her own happiness. “I found I felt more joyful because I was consciously doing something to help other people feel happy,” Sally confessed.

Sometimes behind a simple object, a variety of meanings and a profound secret story might be hiding, like the one from this 18-year-old guy.