‘We don’t have the resources’: Syracuse rabbit rescue is closing

CICERO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A bunny “bed and breakfast” originally meant for rabbit rehabilitation and boarding has turned into seven years of rescuing domestic bunnies. Which is seven years more than the original plan.

Annie-Laurie Hunter, director of Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed and Breakfast over in Cicero, is ready to close the door to that part of her life.

She has worked in rabbit rescue for 19 years, and opened Hunter Hollow in 2016.

As Hunter explained it, the rescue is 100% volunteer and donation-based. And with a lack of commitment, too much on her plate, and more bunnies than she can handle, she is tired.

“60% of the people who say they will volunteer don’t show up,” she explained.

The intake of rabbits has been much higher than the outtake for months.

Hunter Hollow will still remain open for wildlife rehabilitation and boarding for domestic bunnies, but the rescue will slowly begin to close as all the rabbits — hopefully sooner rather than later — are adopted out.

They are turning away about 30 rabbits a day, which is consistent with the number she gave when we last talked with her in March.

“Turning away rabbits every single day crushes my soul,” she said.

There are a lot of emotions Hunter has been feeling since confirming the closure. But one she is sure of is that she has given it her all.

Currently, over 150 rabbits are under her care, with about 80 ready to be adopted out.

“As much as we’re ‘closing,’ we are still doing everything we need to do to take care of the animals,” said Hunter.

There is no timeline for an official end, but the estimate right now is eight to 12 months.

After that, the plan is to get rid of equipment by selling or donating it.

“This has been seven more years of domestics [rabbits] than I intended to do,” Hunter continued.

There have been 72 adoptions so far this year, and 151 total for last year. If Hunter wasn’t turning away rabbits, she said they could easily be at 300.

To, Around, With, and Against — all preposition-themed names — are the four bunnies that have been at the rescue the longest.

Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed and Breakfast is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are still looking for people to adopt, and are in serious need of volunteers until the very end.

Click here for more, or to adopt.

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