Rabbit who keeps losing her home hugs rescuer when she finally feels safe
When a 6-year-old long-haired rabbit named Parsley was surrendered to a rescue group in February, she was in terrible shape. Her fur was so matted she could barely walk. It wasn’t even possible for her to turn her head or groom herself.
“Her fur had matted rock solid and become such a thick pelt,” Avalon Llewellyn, a foster care volunteer at The Rabbit Sanctuary, a rabbit rescue group in Sydney, Australia, told The Dodo.
Parsley’s struggles went beyond her physical state. She was also scared and unsure of her surroundings.
“Parsley spent three weeks hiding under my bathroom cabinet, bunched up against the wall,” said Llewellyn, who fostered Parsley. “She would hide when I came into my bathroom and only venture out when it was quiet to eat some hay.”
“It is normal for a bunny to take some time to warm up to a new environment, but it was clear she was a very nervous girl, who would take a long time to trust,” she added. “I would offer her a treat under the cabinet and would hear her carefully come to the edge to take the treat and then go and hide again.”
This wasn’t Parsley’s first time in rescue care. After initially being found as a stray about a year ago, Parsley had moved through several homes, never quite finding one where she could stay for long.
Llewellyn said she doesn’t know exactly why Parsley kept being rehomed, but said it’s common for long-haired rabbits to be surrendered.
“We often see people buying long-haired rabbits because of how cute they are, with no understanding of their grooming requirements,” Llewellyn said. “Soon the fur growth gets out of hand, the rabbit becomes matted and people are unsure how to manage.”
To help Parsley feel better, Llewellyn carefully shaved off the dense matting — a process that took about an hour and a half. The change was immediate.
“She was suddenly able to groom herself, scratch herself and turn her neck,” Llewellyn said. “I can't imagine the relief it would have been just to feel the wind on her skin and be able to move as she wished.”
Once free from the painful weight of her fur, Parsley began to slowly emerge — both physically and emotionally. She left her hiding spot and started exploring Llewellyn’s studio. And then, one day, she did something unexpected.
“One day she sat on my lap and turned and put her arms up,” Llewellyn said. “She just held on tight and sat on my chest. I could feel her heart beat against mine! She'd be sitting on me in a way that meant she was welcome to leave if she wanted to, but she'd stay close with her head under my chin.”
Parsley stayed like that for nearly 20 minutes, soaking in the closeness she had likely been missing for so long.
“There was nothing greater than watching Parsley slowly trust me and come out of her shell,” Llewellyn said.
It soon became clear that Parsley had a lot of love to give — and not just to humans. She also formed an attachment to a stuffed puffin Llewellyn gave her.
“Parsley slept next to the puffin every single night,” Llewellyn said. “I noticed within a few days that she'd spend time licking it too — a common grooming behavior we see in rabbits.”
Llewellyn and the team at The Rabbit Sanctuary expected it might take some time to find Parsley the right home. Older rabbits, especially those with special grooming needs, can be harder to place.
But then, the perfect match came along.
“Parsley was adopted by a beautiful older couple, who had another long-haired male desexed bunny, who was quiet and gentle — and the same age!” Llewellyn said. “They were hoping to find a rabbit to bond with their boy, and Parsley, having shown so many grooming behaviours, was a great fit.”
Volunteers transported Parsley to her new home, where they were able to see her begin settling in and forming a bond with her new companion.
“I've received an update that the bonding process is going well,” Llewellyn said. “She is free roam, indoors and has a lovely Parsley dedicated space to spend her days.”
“I am so grateful to see Parsley's new home,” she said.
