Help Amy’s Bunny Rescue Expand
Donation protected
- From A Grass Roots Rescue To Something More -
#helpamysrescue
In 2016, Amy Mclaughlin started a "critter sitter" organization. From there, Amy had no idea that her love for animal conservation and rescue would turn into a rabbit safe haven that has - to date - rescued over 600 rabbits, and other small animals.
With this campaign, we hope to raise enough money so that Amy can purchase a permanent rabbit rescue facility that can house more rabbits than her current home-based location. For Amy, rescuing and adopting rabbits is a project of love. She uses a lot of her own money to support her rescue rabbits, including all of the money that she earns from her bunny sitting services. With this campaign, we're seeking your support to help Amy expand her rescue operations and find more permanent homes for rabbits in need.
It is a well-known fact that rabbits are one of the world's most adorable animals. But it is not well-known that they make lovely indoor household companions. Rabbits come in many different sizes and colours, and each one has a distinct personality. They are a playful and spirited species that, if given lots of love and humane conditions, will give you love in return tenfold. They are very smart and cheeky, and they love to have their brains stimulated constantly. Rabbits can be very affectionate and if you ever witness a bonded pair, you would be amazed by their capacity to love. Amy has been able to see so many rabbits for who they really are. It is a passion of hers to educate the community about the wonders of rabbit companions and why they are worth rescuing.
Currently based out of Sooke, BC, Amy and her rescue services aid all of Vancouver Island. She has also helped facilitate rescues on the mainland. This year we have seen particular urgency for Amy to open a large facility because many people have acquired rabbits (usually through breeders or online sites) in the hopes of having an animal connection prompted by COVID isolation. Once the reality hits that owning a rabbit is a very large commitment, sadly, many people proceed to dump their rabbits outside in the cold, frigid weather for which domesticated rabbits are not designed to live in. Many rabbits have been seen wandering outside in the Victoria area this season.
With an increase in space to accommodate and rescue more rabbits, her life-long goal has been to expand into a full time facility where she could:
· increase her presence in the community and promote animal advocacy
· increase the volume of animals rescued and fostered
· provide educational series, as well as summer camps, for children
· sell locally made rabbit supplies that are 100% safe for rabbits
- A Little About Amy -
Some people are born to be more giving of themselves and selflessly give to others each and every day...that's Amy. Her entire life revolves around the promotion and continued care for animals that have been neglected, abandoned, and in need of a new home. She is a tirelessly hard worker that keeps a day job, a meaningful commitment with her partner Miguel and her stepson, animals of her own, all whilst caring for countless rescued animals each and every day.
She began her career working in a veterinarian clinic. She would often be the person to work with rabbits where she developed a talent for working with these lovable fluff muffins. Working with rabbits requires a certain level of confidence, patience, serenity, and love...all things that come naturally to her.
She then moved on and began working with the SPCA where she became locally known as "the bunny lady." Her bunny whispering ways made her the perfect person to groom rabbits, cut nails, clean enclosures, interview potential adopters, ensure potential adopters had the appropriate setup, etc.
After 10 years with the SPCA, Amy changed careers and began working in the civil sector yet she continued her work with rabbits. After beginning her rabbit sitting side work, she began to have inquires about rehoming bunnies. As a life long animal lover and advocate, the opportunity to find the perfect home for innocent little rabbits became her mission.
Her day usually begins at 6am when she gets up to feed rabbits, replenish hay and water, clean litter boxes, and spend time with all the fur babies. From there she commutes to work (one hour away) and at every break she runs the social media for Amy's Bunny Barn responding to people's inquiries and questions.
Once she returns home, she cleans more rabbit enclosures and gives more hay and water, spends time socializing and snuggling with all her rescues, taking them outside to play, driving rabbits to the vets, picking up supplies for fosters and dropping them off. She also does:
· house visits for nail clipping and grooming
· facilitates adoptions (meeting adoptees, introducing rabbits to adoptees)
· purchases and picks up inhumane hutches and destroys them
· facilitates rabbit dating and bonding
· organizes fundraisers to help cover the costs of running a rabbit rescue
When all of that is done, she then finds time to close her eyes for a few minutes. Amy is the hardest worker out there with the biggest heart. But seriously. She is a warrior.
Emotionally she is in constant overdrive mode. It takes a lot of strength to rehabilitate animals that have seen the very worst of humanity. But she is there and she gives so much...even if the rabbit she rescues only has a short time on this earth. The sad truth about animal rescuing is that she has sadly been a part of so many losses, which furthers her drive to want to save each and every bunny that she can.
- About Amy's Rabbits -
The first thing that you notice when you get to Amy’s house is that it is always strikingly clean. Amy's rabbits are always immaculately cared for as well. The rabbits that are either single, or bonded in pairs, live in large enclosures with unlimited access to hay and water bowls. All of the rabbits that come through her doors are litter trained so that they poop and pee in their litter box. The rabbits receive healthy portions of high quality pellets and fresh vegetables daily. Enrichment activities are provided to each rabbit and she often takes the rabbits outside at individual times in her fully bunny-proofed backyard. She is constantly washing flooring blankets and bedding blankets to ensure the health and sanitation of her rescues. Amy advocates for rabbits having large spaces and having the ability to free roam for some portion of each day. Soft flooring options protect the rabbit and she maintains trimmed nails for the safety of their delicate feet as well.
Not only does Amy commit to rescuing and finding the bunnies home, she commits to them for their lifetime and she will always take them back without question. Additionally, she is there as a support to her adopters for the lifetime of their rescue companion. Before rabbits leave her care, each rabbit is neutered or spayed, they receive a full veterinarian check up, and each rabbit receives their vaccinations against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD).
Amy also spends a lot of time getting to know each rabbit so that she can assess whether or not the rabbit would be best suited to be living individually, with another rabbit as a companion, or if they would be suitable in a house with or without children or other pets. It is a thorough process but one that Amy takes so much pride in.
We cannot say enough good things about this grass roots rescue that truly only has one goal: to give as many scared, lonely, and abandoned rabbits a loving forever home. What Amy has built is more than an animal rescue. She has built a community of rabbit lovers who want to advocate on behalf of these sweet and quirky lagomorphs. We want to thank each and every person for taking the time to learn about this amazing cause and we can't wait to meet this goal with your support to give Amy the space to rescue more rabbits on Vancouver Island!
Click Here to Learn More About Amys Bunny Barn
Facebook Account
Instagram Account
Times Colonist Article
https://www.cheknews.ca/pet-chek-baby-bunnies-and-a-bonded-couple-from-amys-bunny-barn-822593/
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/people-are-in-panic-mode-island-animal-rescue-agencies-overwhelmed-with-pet-surrenders-1.5871361
#helpamysrescue
In 2016, Amy Mclaughlin started a "critter sitter" organization. From there, Amy had no idea that her love for animal conservation and rescue would turn into a rabbit safe haven that has - to date - rescued over 600 rabbits, and other small animals.
With this campaign, we hope to raise enough money so that Amy can purchase a permanent rabbit rescue facility that can house more rabbits than her current home-based location. For Amy, rescuing and adopting rabbits is a project of love. She uses a lot of her own money to support her rescue rabbits, including all of the money that she earns from her bunny sitting services. With this campaign, we're seeking your support to help Amy expand her rescue operations and find more permanent homes for rabbits in need.
It is a well-known fact that rabbits are one of the world's most adorable animals. But it is not well-known that they make lovely indoor household companions. Rabbits come in many different sizes and colours, and each one has a distinct personality. They are a playful and spirited species that, if given lots of love and humane conditions, will give you love in return tenfold. They are very smart and cheeky, and they love to have their brains stimulated constantly. Rabbits can be very affectionate and if you ever witness a bonded pair, you would be amazed by their capacity to love. Amy has been able to see so many rabbits for who they really are. It is a passion of hers to educate the community about the wonders of rabbit companions and why they are worth rescuing.
Currently based out of Sooke, BC, Amy and her rescue services aid all of Vancouver Island. She has also helped facilitate rescues on the mainland. This year we have seen particular urgency for Amy to open a large facility because many people have acquired rabbits (usually through breeders or online sites) in the hopes of having an animal connection prompted by COVID isolation. Once the reality hits that owning a rabbit is a very large commitment, sadly, many people proceed to dump their rabbits outside in the cold, frigid weather for which domesticated rabbits are not designed to live in. Many rabbits have been seen wandering outside in the Victoria area this season.
With an increase in space to accommodate and rescue more rabbits, her life-long goal has been to expand into a full time facility where she could:
· increase her presence in the community and promote animal advocacy
· increase the volume of animals rescued and fostered
· provide educational series, as well as summer camps, for children
· sell locally made rabbit supplies that are 100% safe for rabbits
- A Little About Amy -
Some people are born to be more giving of themselves and selflessly give to others each and every day...that's Amy. Her entire life revolves around the promotion and continued care for animals that have been neglected, abandoned, and in need of a new home. She is a tirelessly hard worker that keeps a day job, a meaningful commitment with her partner Miguel and her stepson, animals of her own, all whilst caring for countless rescued animals each and every day.
She began her career working in a veterinarian clinic. She would often be the person to work with rabbits where she developed a talent for working with these lovable fluff muffins. Working with rabbits requires a certain level of confidence, patience, serenity, and love...all things that come naturally to her.
She then moved on and began working with the SPCA where she became locally known as "the bunny lady." Her bunny whispering ways made her the perfect person to groom rabbits, cut nails, clean enclosures, interview potential adopters, ensure potential adopters had the appropriate setup, etc.
After 10 years with the SPCA, Amy changed careers and began working in the civil sector yet she continued her work with rabbits. After beginning her rabbit sitting side work, she began to have inquires about rehoming bunnies. As a life long animal lover and advocate, the opportunity to find the perfect home for innocent little rabbits became her mission.
Her day usually begins at 6am when she gets up to feed rabbits, replenish hay and water, clean litter boxes, and spend time with all the fur babies. From there she commutes to work (one hour away) and at every break she runs the social media for Amy's Bunny Barn responding to people's inquiries and questions.
Once she returns home, she cleans more rabbit enclosures and gives more hay and water, spends time socializing and snuggling with all her rescues, taking them outside to play, driving rabbits to the vets, picking up supplies for fosters and dropping them off. She also does:
· house visits for nail clipping and grooming
· facilitates adoptions (meeting adoptees, introducing rabbits to adoptees)
· purchases and picks up inhumane hutches and destroys them
· facilitates rabbit dating and bonding
· organizes fundraisers to help cover the costs of running a rabbit rescue
When all of that is done, she then finds time to close her eyes for a few minutes. Amy is the hardest worker out there with the biggest heart. But seriously. She is a warrior.
Emotionally she is in constant overdrive mode. It takes a lot of strength to rehabilitate animals that have seen the very worst of humanity. But she is there and she gives so much...even if the rabbit she rescues only has a short time on this earth. The sad truth about animal rescuing is that she has sadly been a part of so many losses, which furthers her drive to want to save each and every bunny that she can.
- About Amy's Rabbits -
The first thing that you notice when you get to Amy’s house is that it is always strikingly clean. Amy's rabbits are always immaculately cared for as well. The rabbits that are either single, or bonded in pairs, live in large enclosures with unlimited access to hay and water bowls. All of the rabbits that come through her doors are litter trained so that they poop and pee in their litter box. The rabbits receive healthy portions of high quality pellets and fresh vegetables daily. Enrichment activities are provided to each rabbit and she often takes the rabbits outside at individual times in her fully bunny-proofed backyard. She is constantly washing flooring blankets and bedding blankets to ensure the health and sanitation of her rescues. Amy advocates for rabbits having large spaces and having the ability to free roam for some portion of each day. Soft flooring options protect the rabbit and she maintains trimmed nails for the safety of their delicate feet as well.
Not only does Amy commit to rescuing and finding the bunnies home, she commits to them for their lifetime and she will always take them back without question. Additionally, she is there as a support to her adopters for the lifetime of their rescue companion. Before rabbits leave her care, each rabbit is neutered or spayed, they receive a full veterinarian check up, and each rabbit receives their vaccinations against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD).
Amy also spends a lot of time getting to know each rabbit so that she can assess whether or not the rabbit would be best suited to be living individually, with another rabbit as a companion, or if they would be suitable in a house with or without children or other pets. It is a thorough process but one that Amy takes so much pride in.
We cannot say enough good things about this grass roots rescue that truly only has one goal: to give as many scared, lonely, and abandoned rabbits a loving forever home. What Amy has built is more than an animal rescue. She has built a community of rabbit lovers who want to advocate on behalf of these sweet and quirky lagomorphs. We want to thank each and every person for taking the time to learn about this amazing cause and we can't wait to meet this goal with your support to give Amy the space to rescue more rabbits on Vancouver Island!
Click Here to Learn More About Amys Bunny Barn
Facebook Account
Instagram Account
Times Colonist Article
https://www.cheknews.ca/pet-chek-baby-bunnies-and-a-bonded-couple-from-amys-bunny-barn-822593/
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/people-are-in-panic-mode-island-animal-rescue-agencies-overwhelmed-with-pet-surrenders-1.5871361
Organizer and beneficiary
Christie Pulak
Organizer
Victoria, BC
Amy Mclaughlin
Beneficiary