I have loved rabbits all my life but grew up in Queensland where keeping them as pets is illegal. Despite loving them, I never really knew much about their welfare or needs.

After establishing my family for 10 years in the Blue Mountains, NSW, I finally stumbled across an opportunity to welcome a pet into our home. My children have autism and bringing a pet into our family was a decision that had been postponed for many years due to not feeling my children were ready. I had my hands full already, could I really handle a pet, too?

 

One day a dear friend offered to give a pet rabbit to my daughter for her birthday. I had been feeling guilty about promising my daughter a pet for the past 3 years and it not having eventuated. So I took the plunge and agreed more quickly than I ordinarily would.

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I usually research things verbatim and consider things very carefully.
This time I had unwittingly side-stepped my careful planning. This led to a quick crash course in rabbit knowledge as, like most people, I had thought you kept these animals in a small cage outside.  I had no idea this was cruel or dangerous for them.

The rest is history really. I fell in love with these creatures, learned that they shouldn't be kept in a hutch; that they have special requirements; and learned that they are the most misunderstood and neglected pet of all pets.

We had some bad luck with an accidental litter; I rescued some babies from a friend when their doe mother departed; and I took on a few others in situations where a pet rabbit suddenly no longer suited a family because they "weren't what they imagined".

 

Before too long, I found myself looking after 15 rabbits and crying myself to sleep at night trying to work out how to house all of them indoors and allow each of them two hours daily exercise outside of their hutch. How would I honour them all and their individual needs?

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We had some accidental fights between our female rabbits because, like most people, we didn't realise the dangers of allowing two females or two males together and naively thought they could be "friends". A vet bill of $700 later helped me quickly learn about the need to desex rabbits and have them undergo a special "bonding process"  before rabbits can co-exist together without killing eachother.

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All the while these adorable creatures stole my heart, showed me their personalities and gave me love like I never knew was possible from such a small animal.

During my darkest moments of overwhelm, I could've dropped these rabbits off to the RSPCA  - or even worse, dumped them somewhere where I didn't have the burden of needing to spend 4 hours each day cleaning up and caring for them. But I believe if I have the capacity to educate others and re-home them myself, then I should do it.

 

So I began this venture, and now you are reading about it. Please help spread the word to anyone you know who lives in the Sydney area who may be interested in rescuing a rabbit.

Rabbits need space outside of a hutch to run and jump and dig. These are natural behaviours of a rabbit and they need to express them. Rabbits can be litter trained, they are affectionate, curious and will make you laugh.

Bunnies really are special little creatures who can offer so much more than people realise.

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