Rabbit Rescue, Control & Management

Happy Tail Tuesday - Oscar and Olive. 💕

At the sanctuary, we lovingly referred to this big bun as "Oscar the Grouch." He was a bit of a bully, an avid mounter, grunter, and charger. We loved him dearly, but he certainly wasn't pleased with shelter life.

Rowan, a volunteer, was looking for a bunny buddy, and Oscar needed one-on-one support. They were matched in our foster program, and Rowan gave Oscar his first real home.

While seemingly happy in his new digs, Oscar started refusing food intermittently. Stasis protocol would get him munching eventually, but another episode would follow shortly after.

He thought his fluffy lop bum may be the root cause, but with dedicated grooming from both Rowan and Deanna, he was still getting tummy upsets.

Someone proposed that the root cause may be more psychological - a grumpy bunny is often an anxious bunny. He was prescribed topical mirtazapine for depression, which helped keep him on track. But long-term, we thought it was important to find him a bunny friend to help him feel safe and secure.

A reminder that Oscar was once a bit of a tyrant with other bunnies... we weren't sure how the speed dating would go. But when he met Olive, that version of Oscar was a distant memory. Sure, he had some humpy moments. But they settled into one another immediately.

Rowan brought the pair home without issue - never a scrap or tiff. It felt like immediate love, Olive's gentle nature complimenting Oscar's sweet self beneath the gruff facade. Oscar hasn't needed mirtazapine since Olive came home.

Our little grouch is grouchy no longer - happy and loved by both his human and his bun-wife. 🥹💖 Click through to the end to see their first date. ... See MoreSee Less

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"Is this bunny wild?" "Were they dumped?" "Are they in danger?"

Every domestic rabbit found in the wild is deserving of rescue support.

The sad truth is that rabbit rescues are incredibly limited by capacity, funding, and staffing. They can often only take in bunnies in the most immediate danger. And still, only when they have the resources to responsibly do so.

Differentiating between wild, feral, and recently dumped rabbits helps rescues prioritize those in most need.

When you see a domestic rabbit outdoors, please report the sighting to abandonedrabbits.com - this is our best tool for not only rescue support, but also tracking feral rabbit populations.

Not every rabbit reported will be rescued (believe us, if we could, we would). But your report is still invaluable.

The more accurately we can track feral populations, the stronger our case for targeted support and funding long-term ethical solutions.

Each report helps us advocate for all rabbits. ... See MoreSee Less

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