What do a toymaker and a veteran have in common? More than you might think—especially when you meet Mike Bowling and Daniel Bean.

Mike Bowling, the creative force behind the wildly successful Pound Puppies, is no stranger to dreaming big. A local entrepreneur turned toymaking legend, Mike’s inventions have brought happiness and smiles to millions of children worldwide. But two years ago, during a CEO Roundtable meeting, he surprised his fellow business leaders with something a little different: a country music song.

It was his first-ever attempt at songwriting, and it wasn’t just any song. It was a heartfelt tribute to the bond between a rescue dog and a veteran. One of the CEOs at the table that day was Daniel Bean, CEO of K9s For Warriors, a local nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD. When Daniel heard the lyrics, his eyes lit up. He looked at Mike and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if K9s For Warriors could use that song?”

Mike didn’t hesitate. He offered to donate some of the song’s proceeds to the organization—if he could get it produced.

There was just one catch: Mike didn’t know the first thing about the music industry. But he did know how to build things from scratch. After all, he’d done it before—creating toys, pitching them to manufacturers, and eventually turning his idea into a global phenomenon. He understood something crucial: business is business, no matter the field.

So Mike did what he does best—he got to work. Like a little dog with a big bite, he refused to let go of the dream of producing the song. He found a Nashville-based veteran songwriter, James Slater, to help co-write the music and guide him through the maze of publishing, pitching, and producing. And slowly but surely, the song made its way up the songwriting ladder in Nashville.

Now, the big news: This week in Nashville at the CMA Fest, Mike Bowling’s song, “Who Rescued Who,” was officially released—sung by country music rising star Ryan Larkins. The song is available on all music platforms, and you can find it by searching Ryan Larkins – Who Rescued Who.

And the story doesn’t stop there. The official music video—featuring K9s For Warriors, veterans, and their rescue dogs—is out now too. Notice it was filmed at the local K9 for Warriors facility.  You can watch it here:

But wait—there’s more.

Ryan Larkins will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Thursday, June 12th, to perform “Who Rescued Who” alongside faithful service dogs. It’s a full-circle moment—what started as a spark in a CEO meeting is now shining under the spotlight of country music’s most iconic venue – the Grand Ole Opry!

The moral of the story? If you have a dream, go for it. You don’t have to be rich. You don’t need industry connections. You just need courage, wisdom, and the willingness to look and ask for help—and never give up when you hear “No.” Pound Puppies was once just an idea in Mike Bowling’s head. Today, it’s a billion-sales brand and Mike’s hoping the same magic will happen with this beautiful song.

“Who Rescued Who” was once just a melody in his head. Now it’s playing on Nashville’s biggest stage this coming Thursday! Dreams do come true!

Yet…the vision isn’t over until one last thing happens – radio!! 

Mike Bowling and Daniel Bean are asking for your help (because that’s how success happens, remember?) :

• Call your local radio stations and request the song, “Who Rescued Who” by Ryan Larkins
• If you have connections in the radio space – reach out to them about this unique and beautiful song and ask them to play it

Let’s help this message of healing, hope, and second chances reach the ears—and hearts—of millions! 

And if you are reading this and have a dream in your mind, Mike Bowling wanted to encourage you to keep going, stay the course, search for experts and ask them to help you. And never, ever give up! Who knows…one day you may be sitting in an audience watching your dream come to life!