Some dogs are not born confident greeters. They need patience, reassurance, and time to feel safe when everything around them changes.
When Anni Cummings, a dog mom living in South Dakota, realized her rescue dog Mojo was struggling to settle into their neighborhood, she understood that ignoring it was not an option.
In those first weeks, Mojo barked whenever neighbors passed by. It was never aggression, only fear showing itself the only way he knew how. Instead of letting that fear define him, Anni came up with an idea that would soon soften hearts throughout the block.
A Simple Fence Idea That Changed Everything
From the day Anni brought Mojo home from the shelter, she felt a deep connection to him. He was loving, playful, and quickly became her constant shadow.
There was just one challenge.
Mojo felt uneasy around people he did not know. After Anni and her boyfriend moved into a new neighborhood, that discomfort became more visible.
Whenever someone walked past their yard, Mojo reacted with anxious barking.
Anni worried that people might misunderstand him. She wanted them to see the gentle dog she knew, not the fear he was still learning to manage.
Because Mojo adored tennis balls, Anni leaned into what made him happiest.
She hung a bucket filled with tennis balls on the fence and added a handwritten note that said, “I promise I’m not mean. Just throw the tennis ball and we will be friends.”
Less than twenty minutes later, neighbors began tossing balls into the yard, laughing as Mojo sprinted after them with pure excitement.
Before long, the whole neighborhood joined in. Kids stopped by, neighbors lingered, and even mail carriers took turns playing with Mojo and his Golden Retriever sister, Lily.
Anni shared the scene in a video on her TikTok account, and it spread quickly. Viewers everywhere connected with the simple act of kindness and understanding.
Comments poured in.
“If I passed this on my commute. I would 100% be late to work,” one user shared.
“That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d be there all day,” another said.
“You need to have a camera out there so we can live stream,” added a third.
The change in Mojo was impossible to miss. His nervousness slowly melted away, replaced by confidence and a growing list of familiar faces.
A Happy Life Built On Trust And Play
Away from the fence and tennis balls, Mojo and Lily are flourishing in South Dakota.
Because of Anni’s commitment, their lives are filled with long walks, backyard games, dog park visits, and road trips.
From chasing waves at the beach to tagging along on fishing trips to curling up for naps, Mojo is soaking in every experience.
Once a timid shelter dog, he now lives a joyful life surrounded by friends, love, and a yard that never runs out of tennis balls.