Jeannie and Mr. BoJingles

Written by: Mr. BoJingles

Back in 2016, I was a homeless and nameless lop-eared bunny. My siblings and I found ourselves working in a petting zoo. I loved it when the children would pick me up and snuggle with me, but they always put me back down. I wondered if I would ever be rescued and have a real home. 😢

That’s when I overheard a lady ask my owner if she knew where she could get a lop-eared bunny. My owner said pointing at me, “You can have this one for twenty dollars.” The lady smiled and immediately gave my owner a twenty dollar bill. Before I knew it, I was picked up and put into the arms of that sweet lady who became my Mom. She caressed me and held me up to her cheek. I could tell that I would be very loved. At first she called me Jingles, then Jingle Bells, but shook her head. Then she said, “BoJingles…Mr. BoJingles” and she grinned from ear to ear. I had a name! I was so happy that I snuggled up under her neck and just wanted to stay there. She carried me home and placed me in a large dog crate. She took a Christmas tin and filled it with litter and placed it in my crate. I really needed to use the bathroom so I jumped up on it and pottied. My Mom was so pleased!

I met my sister Bella, a beautiful black Shih Tzu, and I loved her at first sight. Bella told me all about how she was a therapy dog and that she got to visit in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Right then I decided that was what I wanted to do, and I told my Mom which made her very happy. Mom carried me with her to a Faithful Paws training meeting where I was the perfect gentleman. I was passed around to everyone there and stayed very calm and still. I was so excited to hear Ms. Connie say that I had the temperament to be a therapy bunny. I was licensed as a therapy pet and given my own badge with my name and picture on it. I couldn’t wait to get home to tell Bella.

Since then, Bella and I have made hundreds of visits to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, the Children’s Museum, The Discovery Center, and many more places. I even go with my Mom to her Sunday School class where she teaches 3-4 year-old children. She always dresses me up for the occasion and makes sure that I have on a hat. Mom tells me that I have more clothes than she does!

I have learned the cutest trick that everyone always wants me to perform. I have a little wooden toy that Mom rolls to me and tells me to throw it. I pick it up with my teeth and toss it. I usually do this several times for everyone’s entertainment. They think I am so clever. Click here to see me do my trick!

I truly love to make people smile and forget their worries, even if just for a little while. I love it when they talk or sing to me while I am being rocked in the nursing homes. Just holding me always makes them laugh and smile. They always get their cameras out for a picture with me.

Since I have become a therapy pet, my sweet sister Bella has crossed over the Rainbow bridge. I still miss her. She was a wonderful therapy dog and was very instrumental in my becoming a therapy pet.

I am so proud to be an active member of Faithful Paws Houston where I am friends with about 300 dogs and one cat. Mom and I usually make about 3-4 visits a week, and I love every one of them. I also get to spend one-on-one time with my Mom who loves me very much.