About
Mission Statement
Our mission is to fund animal welfare organizations dedicated to improving and enhancing the health and well-being of animals.
About Jumpy Animal Welfare Foundation
Jumpy Animal Welfare Foundation was founded in February 2023 by Carmelita Hallett following the tragic death of her husband, Brent Hallett. The organization is designed to share the couple’s passion for animals by providing funding to not-for-profit animal welfare organizations dedicated to improving and enhancing the health and well-being of animals, with a focus on rabbits.
About Brent and Carmelita Hallett
Carmelita + Brent
Brent and Carmelita Hallett were together for 28 years and were best friends. Both passionate animal lovers, Brent and Carmelita had a particular fondness for rabbits.
Carmelita and Brent’s first pet rabbit was Maximillian, aka Max, a black lop eared rabbit they rescued. Brent and Max would lay on the floor together with their noses touching until one of them fell asleep. Max developed molar spurs when he was 7 years old and many vet visits and surgeries followed. It was during this time that Brent and Carmelita discovered the work of The House Rabbit Society, an international non-profit animal welfare organization.
The couple’s second rabbit was Tommy Bahama, a mini Rex. Tommy was saved by Brent and Carmelita when they saw him at a rabbit show. Tommy had a very different personality from Max. He was not as relaxed and hated to be held but he was very playful and loved to chase Carmelita around the house. Tommy was very healthy for the first 11 years of his life until he developed arthritis in his back and passed away one month before his 12th birthday.
Brent also loved to watch the wild jackrabbits that lived around their neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta. There was one rabbit in particular who visited quite often for carrots the couple would leave outside. Brent would sit on the front step and watch this rabbit eat her carrot. Each day he would leave a carrot closer and closer to the front step where he was sitting. Eventually, after a few months, the rabbit was sitting so close to him he could almost reach out and touch her. One day Brent decided to hold the carrot in his hand very still and see if she would come to eat it. She did and Brent loved it so much. The couple named her Jumpy because if they didn’t sit still the rabbit would jump and move away.
After Tommy died, Brent and Carmelita decided to travel more. In April 2021, Brent and Carmelita quit their jobs to travel to warmer climates. They went to the United States, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and were planning to continue to Japan, Australia and more of Thailand when Brent was murdered in a random and senseless act on October 6, 2022, while they were on an extended vacation in Las Vegas. Following Brent’s untimely death, Carmelita vowed to continue his love for animals and raise money for various causes, beginning with the founding of Jumpy Animal Welfare Foundation. Carmelita now resides in Calgary, AB, where she runs the organization.
