When pet rabbits are a handful, Dutchie Buns comes to the rescue

By Ingrid Keizer

Superheroes are real. They live and work in our midst but when they hear a call for help, they quietly slip away, spring into action and rescue the most vulnerable among us. Margo Roberts, the founder of Dutchie Buns, a local bunny rescue, and her team of volunteers are a few of those superheroes. 

According to Forbes.com, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to animal shelters each year in the United States. The number of surrendered pets euthanized has fortunately dropped from a staggering 2.6 million in 2011 to a somber 920,000 in 2023. When we imagine surrendered pets, we tend to think of cats and dogs, however, rabbits also account for a number of those pets.

Roberts’ love for her first rabbit, Dutchie, inspired her to begin a rescue operation. “Dutchie Buns offers free education to potential adopters,” Roberts said. “A lot of people don’t know that rabbits require more babyproofing than a baby. They chew on everything.”  

Dutchie Buns receives about 10 calls a week from shelters and individuals seeking assistance in finding a home for bunnies. Their sister organization in St. Louis, Dolly’s Dream Home, receives as many as 150 calls a day. 

Volunteers Sam and Sebastian Nichols provide foster care to Smudge, a sweet white bunny with brown “smudges” on her nose, eyes and ears. The newly spayed rabbit sat comfortably with her foster dads as we visited. She seemingly loves human interaction. 

The Nichols also have given a permanent home to Ken and Allan, two black and white rabbits who are a little more independent and less cuddly. The lucky guys have almost an entire bedroom of their own which includes a 10-foot enclosure, fresh greens from the garden, a cardboard box villa that they can chew up and toys for their amusement. 

Sadly, not all pet rabbits are as fortunate as Ken, Allan and Smudge. Roberts described one rabbit who had lost its hair from the stress of being kept in a too-small cage. Another rabbit was dangerously malnourished. Its former owner, after making the decision to surrender the rabbit, didn’t feed it for a week because she didn’t want the expense of buying food. Still another rabbit had been dumped yet managed to live in the elements through December and January. It was finally caught after seeking refuge under a car. Domestic rabbits don’t have the skills to find food and shelter. They’re prone to becoming easy prey and can suffer from hypothermia if they get wet. 

Roberts listed some of the issues that can make having a rabbit as a pet a challenge:

• Rabbits can live 8 to 12 years.
• Rabbit teeth continue to grow and require filing by a veterinarian. Providing hay for chewing can slow that process. Their nails need to be clipped as well.
• Their litter must be changed every day.
• Not all rabbits become friends and must be acclimated to one another. Arranged marriages often don’t work.
• Female rabbits should be spayed. Without spaying they have an 80% chance of developing uterine cancer.
• Unneutered male rabbits have an increased chance of developing testicular cancer.
• Cages or enclosures should be at least 3 feet by 3 feet. Both Roberts and the Nichols have 10-foot enclosures inside their homes.
• Domestic rabbits should be vaccinated for RHDV2, a hemorrhagic disease that can be carried into homes on shoes, but is not contagious to humans.
• Food sold as “rabbit food” in pet stores isn’t ideal. Carrots, sweet potatoes and fruits are high in sugar and should be fed sparingly. Rabbits need hay, fresh greens and high fiber pellets daily.

“Rabbits can be good pets with proper care, knowledge and with an appropriate expectation,” Roberts said. Nichols mentioned, “Adults buy rabbits as pets for children because they’re cute. They require more care than most children can provide.”  This is true with many pets. When the cute wears off and the challenges begin, they are no longer wanted and are surrendered to shelters, thrown out into the elements or worse yet, fatally neglected. In the best-case scenarios, Roberts and her volunteers come to the rescue. They have wonderful superpowers and unconditional love.

Dutchie Buns Rescue welcomes volunteers, fosters and donations. Please visit dutchiebunsrescue.godaddysites.com.