Last week, Katie Reed was taking out the trash at Dolly’s Dream Store, a nonprofit bunny boutique that benefits Dolly’s Dream Home Rabbit Rescue, when she noticed a cardboard box sitting by one of the trash cans.
At first, Reed, the rescue’s executive
director, didn’t think much of it. Then she got closer and saw the note on top.
“Sorry,” the note read. “Take care!”
Suddenly, Reed realized what was going on.
“My heart pretty much sank into my stomach,” Reed told The Dodo.
The rescuer expected to see one rabbit abandoned in the box, but when she opened the cardboard flaps, she found four “terrified” domestic bunnies tucked inside.
“That was the biggest shock,” Reed said. “There wasn't really time to process how upsetting it was.”
Reed took the rabbits inside the rescue and examined them. The 5-month-old babies were all dehydrated, thin and suffering from ear mites. The rescuer got them settled in a safe space and began formulating a treatment plan. She gave them all names — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Figment and Dole Whip.
Today, all four bunnies are safe in a foster home. They’re still in the “stranger danger phase,” as Reed calls it, but they’re getting a bit braver every day.
“For now, we're attempting to bribe them into friendship with snacks,” Reed said. “It's a very sophisticated rehab strategy and one that rabbits tend to appreciate.”
Once they’re healthy enough, the rabbits will be spayed or neutered and begin looking for their permanent families.
“They've had a pretty lousy start, but the nice thing about rescue is that we get to help write the rest of their story,” Reed said. “And I'd say these four are long overdue for a little boring, spoiled, house rabbit life.”
