I'm so happy to see Buddy pictures and stories! I too have to confiscate tennis balls or they turn into the slobberiest piles of formerly yellow goo I've ever seen. I have a new favorite toy for the monster - a WUBBA. It's about the same size as a tennis ball but it has streamers (tentacles???) and it squeaks. If you can handle the noise, it's a nice change from the tennis ball...you can pick it up by the legs!