Baby Bunny Shower Helps Save 20 Rescued Rabbits

Setting a new record for cuteness, volunteers with Fountain Valley’s Bunny Bunch threw a bunny rabbit baby-shower recently, raising $1600 to help rescue, spay and neuter 20 baby bunnies.

The nonprofit rescued three pregnant bunnies from local shelters, and, before long, they had 20 baby bunnies to find homes for.

Located inside of an industrial track at 10534 Bechler River Ave in Fountain Valley, Bunny Bunch now has its first Orange County location. An all-volunteer nonprofit organization, it’s dedicated to educating future and current bunny owners and finding unwanted pet rabbits forever-homes.

Founder Caroline Charland started the organization 26 years ago with her husband and opened their first location in Montclair about six years ago.

“We want people to choose the bunny based on personality,” she said. “It doesn’t make a difference what breed or what color, they all have their own individual personalities.”

At Saturdays bunny shower, the rabbits were arranged inside six playpens holding different breeds of adult and baby bunnies, their fur shades of white, gray, red, black and brown. One pin hosted a smaller breed with eight babies and their mothers. Some of the pens had larger breeds, such as Sgt. Thudhopper who is a “Flemish Giant.”

“We can stop so many owners from having to euthanize,” Charland said. “If we educate them, it can improve their rabbit’s quality of life.”  

Charland has a strict check list a person must meet to qualify for adoption: would-be owners must keep their bunny indoors, get it spayed or neutered and have a large exercise play pen (opposed to a cage) where they have a “hidey-house,” food, water and a litter box.

“My rabbit started using my litter box,” said Charland. “Which is why litter boxes came about for the rabbits.”

Charland said that most owners don’t know about getting their bunny spayed or neutered—which generally lowers their aggression, improves litter box usage and eliminates major health risks. She said that with the proper vet care, a pet bunny’s life can last up to 10-14 years.

Piper Lillehoff of Irvine attended the shower after the recent loss of her 11-year-old bunny Tidy.

“Mine was potty trained better than my dog.” She said, “I think they make terrific pets. They are very quiet.”

Bunny Bunch Orange County throws a couple events a year to raise money and functions from the help it receives from sponsors, grants, donations and volunteers.

They ask people to bring in “presents,” items that are used to care for the bunnies daily at both of their locations: 55 gallon trash bags, paper towels and white vinegar.  

The nonprofit also offers bunny sitting, for folks who go out of town, bunny-care classes and a fully stocked store of bunny-essentials at both locations and online. Charland also runs education and rescue services for guinea pigs and chinchillas, known as the Guinea Gang and C.H.I.N—chinchilla homes in need.