‘We’re at 300% capacity’: Local rabbit rescue needs a vet. How can you help?

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — For seven years now Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed & Breakfast has worked to rehabilitate and — as of a few years ago — rescue domestic rabbits.

But the rescue is in a pinch; their vet left in October 2023. And amidst a vet shortage, this leaves them in a situation where they have been taking in the bunnies but they aren’t all able to be adopted out.

“We need to drop our numbers significantly. We’re at 300% capacity, it’s not sustainable. We are turning away about 30 bunnies a week,” said Annie-Laurie Hunter, Director of Hunter Hollow Bunny B&B.

They are looking for a retired vet who can give them one to two days a month. They are hoping to achieve 15 to 20 spays or neuters within that time.

Currently, they have about 165 rabbits, and of those, around 70 are adoptable. The rescue wants to be below 100 rabbits.

Hunter says they can’t sustain what they are doing. They don’t have any more room to add cages and house the rabbits.

What we are seeing now is the consequences of pets who were bought during the pandemic.

“So many people got animals during Covid, and that’s why all the shelters are full, and all the vets are overworked,” explained Hunter. “We’re not asking a regular vet to take us on too. We are looking for a retired vet to give us one day a month.”

An even bigger problem? Those who buy rabbits for their home, or family, as a real-life Easter bunny.

“It’s a disaster. 90% of bunnies that are bought for Easter bunnies don’t make it to their first birthday,” said Hunter.

As for the rest of the rabbits who do make it, they become unwanted and end up dumped at places like Hunter Hollow.

Hunter explained that there are multiple rabbits at the rescue who were found “running on the streets,” whether they were at the end of the driveway, or out wandering in Syracuse. Other rabbit in-takes were the result of a hoarding situation involving 192 bunnies.

Buying a rabbit is a decade-long commitment. There’s a lot of education that goes into prepping for the cute pet. You need to pay for them to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and so on.

Hunter Hollow’s standard procedure is that they close from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday to weed out anyone who wants to buy an “Easter bunny.”

“None of ours are pooping jellybeans. We have nobody pooping out jellybeans,” said Hunter.

But if you’re serious about adopting a bunny, you will be assured that they will work with you to find one that’ll be a good fit.

“Bunnies are wonderful for the right people, but are not for little kids,” explained Hunter.

All of the rabbits that they take in are named on a six-month basis to help keep track of which bunnies came in and when.

Spring of 2022 is prepositions, fall of 2022 is exclamations, spring of 2023 is adjectives, fall of 2023 is elements, and now the rescue is onto countries for the spring of 2024.

There are rabbits with names like Toot!, Bouncy, Adorable, Beep!, From, Krypton, Pickles!, Belgium, and more.

Hunter Hollow is 100% volunteer and donation-based. Children as young as eight can volunteer, however, kids up from eight through ten must volunteer with a parent.

“Do your research, come, volunteer,” said Hunter.

As for donations, the rescue is always looking for industrial vinegar, and spray disinfectant. Any monetary donations they receive go directly towards the rabbits, for things like woodstove pellets and food. They go through eight tons of food a year there.

Hunter Hollow has a large compost pile in their back lot — near where the rabbits play and live when the weather is nicer — that is free for the taking. Hunter encourages you to take it and put it to good use, as she will be doing the same.

If you’re interested in understanding rabbits differently, Hunter has written three books that are available on Amazon.

“They were written by original bunnies that I had when I first started fostering,” explained Hunter. “It gives them a voice.”

She wrote the stories from the bunny’s point of view, as they converse with humans.

You can check out Tales From Hunter Hollow, More Tales From Hunter Hollow, and Even More Tales From Hunter Hollow HERE.

You can also check out their Facebook which will keep you up-to-date on the bunnies, who is up for adoption, and any events, or volunteers needed in the future.