In the spring of 2022, a domestic baby rabbit found wandering in a Key West neighborhood was brought to the Florida Keys SPCA. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time an abandoned baby bunny found its way to our shelter. Rabbits get dumped frequently when they are no longer wanted by families who lack an understanding of all that is needed to care for a bunny. Rabbits are the third most common animal found in animal shelters across the country. Fortunately, this tiny one arrived alive and uninjured.

She was both sweet and adorable. We assumed she would be an easy adoption once old enough to be spayed. Little did we know Babs would be with us long into her adult life. This certainly wasn’t due to any fault of her own. In fact, she became a staff and volunteer favorite. Her biggest fan was Tiffany, our then Development Director. At every opportunity, Tiffany took Babs into her spacious office where the young bunny explored, played, and stretched out to nap on the carpet. This routine went on for months and was a boon to both of them, until one day Babs disappeared from the office. Tiffany knew she had faithfully kept the door closed so her panic grew as she turned her office upside down, searching with no luck. As she stood wondering what to do next, Tiffany heard a faint scratching sound coming from a chair in the corner of the office. She looked, saw nothing, and questioned her hearing. But then, there it was again! This time she looked under the chair and noticed a hole in the fabric at the bottom of the chair. As she peered into the makeshift hidey-hole, she saw Babs peering out, and just like that, the missing rabbit mystery was solved! Anyone who has lived with a rabbit can probably relate to this; leave it to a rabbit to keep you guessing!

As much as Tiffany loved her rabbit friend, unfortunately she was not in a position to adopt. Babs continued to wait for a home. Years passed with no one showing an interest in our sweet girl. After Babs was at the shelter for more than three and a half years, the Rabbit Universe must have decided Babs needed some help. Our good friends at the Southwest Florida House Rabbit Rescue stopped in while on a vacation trip to the Keys. While here, they met Babs and loved her! While they couldn’t take her then, they promised to return for her in the future. Some months later, they accepted her into their rescue. The hope was that Babs would have a better chance finding a home in an area with a larger adopter pool than what we have locally.

One of the first to meet Babs upon arrival at the rescue was Linda, a devoted volunteer. She was immediately drawn to Babs, and that connection was mutual. It can happen that way between people and animals; some things just seem meant to be. She decided to adopt Babs, who is now a VERY much-loved member of Linda’s family. As well as getting the best bunny mom ever, Babs also found herself a handsome “husbun” named Roger. The two have recently been joined in wedlock and seem to be living happily ever-after with Linda! The Rabbit Universe must be smiling right now, along with all of us.

The Florida Keys SPCA has no time limit when it comes to finding the right home for animals. Sometimes an animal gets adopted within a week of entering the shelter. For others, like Babs, it can take much longer. However long it takes, our ultimate goal is a lifelong, happy, and loving home for all of our adoptees! For more information on our adoptable animals and our other programs, visit www.fkspca.org.