No one knew how long the little red and white Dutch rabbit had been wandering around the South Carolina neighborhood since her family had left her outside to fend for herself. Luckily, she found herself a safe place to hide—protected from neighborhood dogs and the like—inside a fenced-in pool yard.
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Little Debbie has made herself at home at The Rabbit Sanctuary.© Packer |
The property owners spotted her and were afraid she would be injured or worse if they left her outside. So they set out vegetables and water to entice her, but the little rabbit was spooked and hopped away before they could get close enough to pick her up.
Fortunately, they knew a volunteer at The Rabbit Sanctuary, Inc. in Simpsonville, S.C. and gave her a call. Debbie Packer -- the volunteer -- gathered up some veggies, pellets, water, hay, and a travel cage, and set off to try to catch the frightened rabbit.
Once she arrived, the house owners looked on as Packer set out the vegetables, put the pellets in a bowl, and placed a bowl of fresh water out for the rabbit, who was hiding under a pool chair at the edge of the fence.
After placing the inviting food out, Debbie sat down and began talking to her. Very slowly, the rabbit hopped out and began munching on the vegetables. She appeared to be very hungry, so Packer let her eat and drink for a while. When the bunny paused for a moment, Packer carefully leaned over to rub her. The rabbit didn’t run away.
After a few more veggies and a chance to sit quietly, Debbie reached over and picked her up. No longer would the little bunny have to hide from the dogs and feel frightened for her life.
Until she was able to take the rabbit to the sanctuary, Packer set up a temporary home in her kitchen, and the bunny fit right in. She even made friends with one of the four bunny residents of the house. She was so comfortable in her new surroundings, it didn’t take but a few hours for her to flop over on her side and fall soundly asleep.
Knowing that her own four rabbits were there for weeks before they felt safe enough to fall into such an unguarded position, it was a joy to know that she had been able to provide this girl with such a sense of security in only a few short hours.
While reluctant to remove her from a place where she felt safe, Packer knew she couldn’t keep another rabbit: she already had four as well as other pets.
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The rabbits at the sanctuary live comfortably in a facility called the "Rabbitat."© The Rabbit Sanctuary |
So, she spoke with Rabbit Sanctuary Director Caroline Gilbert and made arrangements to take her there to live. A few days later, Packer loaded up the rabbit for the long ride to her new home. After only 15 minutes in the car, the bunny flopped over on her side and went to sleep.
Though sad to leave her at the shelter, Packer soon realized that she had made the right decision. Not only is Little Debbie, named so by the director, happily living at the sanctuary, she is returning the favor by making other bunnies feel safe and loved.
She’s had no trouble making friends, and in almost no time, she befriended the wild cottontail who wouldn't let anyone -- human or rabbit -- near. She also found a little sidekick in a tiny dwarf rabbit who, until Little Debbie arrived, seemed to be frightened of everyone.
Little Debbie is a special rabbit with a gift to calm other bunnies that makes her human onlookers wonder why anyone would have ever wanted to discard her.
