Charles weighed around 4 pounds when he arrived. A healthy weight for a rabbit his size is around 10 pounds.Remember…this story has a happy ending!! But it starts sad. Charles came to us almost dead. He didn’t have the energy to stand or hop, and could only eat for a few minutes before having to rest. His previous ‘owners’ had ‘run out of food’ so they stopped feeding him. They kept him alone in a hutch (apparently letting him out to eat grass was way too much work). They advertised the hutch for sale on Craigslist, with ‘free rabbit if still available.’ Our founder Angie saw this and Charles came to Special Bunny. If you’ve been following our Facebook page for a while, you’ve already seen photos and videos of Charles, and watched him blossom from a rabbit-shaped skeleton into the amazing golden troublemaker he is today.
Brittany was following his story, and she fell in love with him from afar. She spotted him on Petfinder and was smitten…even though she lived on the east coast! But, Brittany was planning a move to Seattle and she thought maybe, just maybe, the stars will align…and they did! Fate intervened and Brittany came to pick up her new rabbit-shaped puppy from our shelter.
Today, Charles is Brittany’s loyal office assistant, performing all sorts of important, relaxation-based chores as she works from home. He is responsible for carpet warming, flopping, foot-licking, nose-bonking of all ankles, and other distractions as assigned. He is paid in snuggles, kisses, adoration, and yummy, delicious, plentiful food. He also guest-starred at our Fundraiser Dinner & Auction, much to the delight of all who attended.
Stories like Charles’ are why we do what we do, and are willing to step in when we see an animal in terrible trouble, even if our shelter is filled to overflowing. Our supporters make stories like Charles’ possible, and we can’t thank you enough. If you want more Hoppy Endings, subscribe to our page, or, better yet, buy our calendar! It’s a whole year’s worth of cuteness — and stories that end well.
Here’s a video of Charles when he first arrived at Special Bunny. He quickly learned to trust and snuggle with Angie, who cared for him round the clock for the first few days to help him survive.
Just two weeks later, Charles was…a completely different rabbit! He was so perked up that he was causing chaos in his pen, and leaping over gates without any concern for where or how he was going to land. Luckily, he landed in a hay bin…and immediately set to work trying to eat his way out.
Here’s our big ‘bunny-puppy’ on his adoption day! We’re not sure who looks happier…Charles or Brittany?
And here’s an update from Brittany, just about 2 months after she brought him home:
Thank you everyone, especially Special Bunny for bringing me this handsome boy! I watched Charles from Wisconsin [nervously] for three months before I got to meet him; I’m so glad Angie and the volunteers believed in the match via email and made it happen.
Charles has been such a champ in adjusting to new people and a new place. He gets into PLENTY of bunny trouble (seems to have a taste for the corners of phone cases left out carelessly…), but not enough to keep him from 24-hour access to the whole apartment. Even so, he spends most weekdays at my feet or side (see the photo — love the little mohawk), snoozing or playing with paper balls I toss his way. I must say, bunny cuddle breaks are the best kind of breaks in the work day.
This golden boy clearly loves people; he follows me up the stairs at night to hang out nearby while I sleep and actively seeks out cuddles and pets – making his requests clear with some serious nudging. His previous ‘owners’ really missed out on a special companion. I’m just so glad Charles was resilient enough to give other humans a chance. Visitors are always amazed to be greeted by a big bunny when they come through the door and followed for hours after entering – until the food comes out, of course, and then nothing else exists in Charles’ world.
He’ll be my special bunny for the rest of his life, thanks to Special Bunny. I am so grateful to Angie for saving him and to the whole crew for nursing him back to the vibrant creature he is today!
