Sometimes, all our furry friends need is a little push to realize it’s okay to make new friends. Here’s the thing: not all doggos are social butterflies, and that’s perfectly normal!
When Anni Cummings, a dog owner from South Dakota, realized her rescue dog, Mojo, wasn’t comfortable in his new neighborhood, she decided to do something about it.
During his first days, Mojo would bark at passersby and neighbors just because he was scared. But then, his mom devised the perfect plan – and soon enough, Mojo became the neighborhood sweetheart!
The Friendship Bucket
When Anni first brought Mojo home from a shelter, she knew he would be special to her. Mojo was loving, he loved to play, and he made the perfect companion.
However, there was a slight problem: Mojo wasn’t exactly a social butterfly. For some reason, he wasn’t very comfortable around unknown people. So, when Anni and her boyfriend moved to a new neighborhood, Mojo had a hard time adjusting to it.
Every time he saw a person walk by his fence, Mojo would bark just because he was scared.
Not wanting people to get the wrong impression, Anni immediately decided to help her pup make friends – and she used the perfect tactics!
Anni knew that Mojo loved tennis balls, so she placed a bucket filled with them on the fence, with a special sign reading: “I promise I’m not mean. Just throw the tennis ball and we will be friends.”
Not even twenty minutes later, people began doing exactly that: throwing balls to Mojo so he could fetch!
Before long, neighbors, school kids, and even mailmen stopped by to play with Mojo and his sister, Lily, the Golden Retriever.
This touching story, captured in a video on Anni’s TikTok account, went viral within days, making Mojo a real internet sensation. People commented on this brilliant idea, emphasizing that it would be extremely hard to ignore the sign – this is adorable.
“If I passed this on my commute. I would 100% be late to work,” one person wrote.
“That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d be there all day,” another added.
“You need to have a camera out there so we can live stream,” the third commenter noted.
So far, it’s safe to say that Mojo overcame his social anxiety. He’s made a lot of friends since, and he’s not intending to slow down any time soon.
Mojo Enjoying Life
Aside from his tennis ball activity, Mojo and his sister, Lily, live the absolute best life in South Dakota.
Thanks to their owner, they have plenty of activities, including daily walkies, playtime in the yard, visiting dog parks, and taking exciting trips with their mom.
Whether it’s chasing sunsets on the beach, going on fishing trips, or just casually napping on the couch, Mojo loves it all, and he couldn’t be happier.
Once a shelter dog, Mojo now has everything he’s ever wanted.