Introducing...MAYA!

 Introducing...MAYA! Naming entry by Jaaini Brinckerhoff, mom of our amazing Smuckers (adopted in 2008). Maya was named after Maya Angelou-for being fearless and for the courage and perseverance she showed over her year outdoors on her own. Thank you everyone for entering the contest!

 Maya settling into her foster home

Maya will be sharing her quotes with you as often as she can. 

Today's quotes directly reflect Maya's journey!

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." -Maya Angelou

 "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." -Maya Angelou

Enjoy your new name and new life, sweet Maya! 

A Whole New World

Jess and the newest Hug-a-Bunny...right after being rescued

This sweet girl has been living outdoors for a year! She was abandoned by her family when they moved away a YEAR ago! Apparently, they had other rabbits and 4 cats- all who were let outdoors when they moved away and didn't want them. The cats are still in and out of the abandoned house, but all of the rabbits vanished- except one. For a whole year, which amazing girl has been living outdoors around her former (now abandoned) home and never left the property. She would go one house to the left or right, but never went farther. For a full year, she's been fending for herself. It's amazing that she survived this tough winter!


Some sweet and caring neighbors noticed that she was outdoors and wanted to do something about it. For days, they set traps with carrots inside, but she was too smart to fall for that. They reached out to us late last night and by this afternoon, we had 4 Hug-a-Bunny volunteers show up to get to work- me (Jamie), Tammie, Jessica (in picture above), and Jeri (a talented bird rescuer) all dropped everything to be there. The rabbit gave us some nice exercise to make sure we deserved to get her. We needed a few extra hands, so we asked some boys from the neighborhood to help. We all got the sweet bunny safely into one area (using my window screens, of course) and Jeri was able to get her into her net! I immediately picked her up and gave her a BIG kiss...today was her lucky day! Today, she felt love for the first time in her life. Right after I hugged her, Jess took her and hugged her too- see above picture for proof! So many people seamlessly bonded together to make sure she was safe and secure. Goes to show you what a little teamwork can do! Tonight is the very first night this sweetie will be indoors in a loving, warm home. Even before she was "homeless" she was living outdoors in a shed. This truly is a rags-to-riches story. She's on the search for her "forever home," but there's a long road ahead before that happens. Let's take it one step at a time! 

Enjoy your first night of the rest of your life!!!!

Stay tuned for updates on this sweetie- and for her name! We're currently having a naming contest on Facebook to see who comes up with the perfect new name for her!