What began as a small idea inspired by Dolly is now becoming something much bigger. Dolly & Co products are being stocked at Rain Rescue, and I will also have a stall at their open day with an even wider selection of handmade pet accessories, gifts and thoughtful little extras.

Rain Rescue is an organisation that means so much to the local community. The work they do for animals in need is incredible, so being invited to support them—and to have Dolly & Co products in their shop—is something I feel genuinely proud of.

I have also been making cat kickers for the rescue cats. I took a batch up to Rain Rescue, and seeing one of the cats enjoying something I had made was such a lovely moment. It was a small reminder that Dolly & Co can be about more than products—it can also bring a little comfort and enrichment to animals waiting for their forever homes.

But I also want to be honest about what goes on behind the scenes.

Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other health conditions means that I cannot always do everything in the way I would like to. There are days when the pain, fatigue and physical limitations make even ordinary tasks feel overwhelming. Preparing for a stall involves much more than simply turning up with a table and some products. There is stock to make, packaging to prepare, signs to design, boxes to carry and an entire display to set up.

I cannot manage all of that alone—and I am learning that I do not have to.

My family have helped me make products, prepare packaging, organise the stock, carry the heavier items and bring the stall together. Dolly & Co may have started with me and Dolly, but there is a whole team of love and support behind it.

For a long time, I think I believed that asking for help somehow took away from what I had achieved. Now I am beginning to see it differently. Accepting support is what allows me to keep creating, keep showing up and keep building something meaningful without completely sacrificing my health.

That is part of The Dolly Way too.

It is not about pretending everything is easy or forcing yourself through every difficult day. It is about adapting, accepting help and finding gentler ways to keep moving forward.

At the Rain Rescue stall, there will be handmade collars and leads, accessories, gifts, wax melts and special products supporting the charity. There will also be more of the Dolly & Co collection available through the website, with purchases using the Rain Rescue code helping us continue to give something back.

This opportunity is about much more than selling products. It is about supporting a charity doing wonderful work, meeting local pet owners and showing what can grow from a difficult chapter—even when you need a little help along the way.

I may not be able to do it all alone, but I am still doing it.

And I am incredibly proud of how far Dolly & Co has come.

For the gentle days, the brave days, and every little moment in between.

Louisa & Dolly x