Dog and Bunny BFFs Teach Children About Resiliency

Take one look at Miles the dog, with his big bug eyes and his silly pup grin, and it’s not hard to see why Pigeon the bunny found in him a calming, healing companion.

The interspecies friendship grew unexpectedly, and it likely saved Pigeon’s life. Now Pigeon and Miles are using their story to show children the value of empathy.

“Miles: A Little Dog with an Eye for Friendship” is the third book in a series from House of Nubs, a non-profit social welfare organization, that features rescued animals to teach children how to overcome adversity.

Pigeon’s story begins at an unsupervised petting zoo, where he and other animals weren’t treated with kindness or respect. When he was rescued and brought to the House of Nubs in Grayslake, Pigeon was traumatized, according to Kristin Ludwig, an animal advocate and Nubs founder.

Pigeon was terrified of humans. His leg thumped uncontrollably, which can cause a heart attack in rabbits.

“We didn’t know what to do,” Ludwig said. “It was Miles, the sweet, gentle, retired therapy dog, who helped him. We noticed the more time he spent hanging around the bunny, the calmer the bunny would get.”

Miles started pushing his bed near Pigeon’s hutch at night so they could be close while they slept. He brought toys and treats to Pigeon, who calmed down and stopped thumping. Ludwig said Pigeon’s demeanor changed, and though he’s still afraid of people, he’s happy, playful and he does “normal bunny stuff.”

But just like in the human world, Miles has his own set of personal challenges. He has an incurable gastrointestinal disease, and his medical needs are extensive.

“Miles still found a way to help someone else, instead of living in his own illness,” Ludwig said. “It’s been a really cool story of empathy. The idea that you can help someone else can be empowering for kids.”

Miles will visit Downers Grove on Sept. 5 for a book signing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Happy Dog Barkery, 5118 Main St.

Ludwig co-wrote “Miles: A Little Dog with an Eye for Friendship” with her mom, Marilyn Ludwig, who is a theater director in Downers Grove. The photography in the 19-page book is by Kelly Andre, and the story is targeted to children ages 5 to 11.

The other two books in the resiliency series include “Nubs: A Little Bird with a Big Story,” which emphasizes reaching out for help, and “Remy: A Little Bird with a Big Imagination,” which deals with self-efficacy.

“Everyone in life has to go through challenges, and resiliency can be built as a skill,” Ludwig said. “The books are about animals who really do these inspiring things. Children can take these lessons and apply them to their own lives.”

The books are available through the Nubs website. All the donations collected through book sales goes back to support the House of Nubs, which will celebrate its third anniversary in October.