Moving Differently, Living Fully: Boo’s Story
Author: Minha Yoon, HRS adopter
It all started one day in early May 2024. There was an urgent call for fosters from HRS, and with some extra space on hand for a brief time before an upcoming move, I seized the opportunity to give somebunny some cozy comfort and the spaciousness to be their full self. Having adopted a lionhead mother-baby-duo a few months prior, I had been learning a ton from HRS about rabbit care and wanted to support their work in some way.
The days, weeks, and months following Easter are most unforgiving on rescues and shelters, as a significant number of rabbits purchased as Easter presents are abandoned after the novelty wears off. Studies estimate that at least 80% of all rabbits purchased for Easter do not live to see their first birthday. Beyond the holiday surge, rabbits remain one of the most commonly surrendered pets and are among the most frequently euthanized in shelters.
Yet rabbits are intelligent, social animals with distinct personalities and a lifespan of around 10 years. They are not “beginner” or short-term pets, but long-term companions who require commitment and care.
When I arrived for my foster pick-up appointment, I learned that there were over 80 rabbits under HRS care waiting for their furever home. They were so over capacity that there were rabbits in every room, and even the hallways had become makeshift spaces for them. It seemed impossible to “pick one” — I wanted to bring them all home with me!
Then, HRS Shelter Manager Anna showed me the back room where Boo was staying. Anna explained that Boo was born with splayed hind legs and was transferred from a local shelter that didn’t have the capacity to provide the medical attention he needed. As I reached down into the x-pen, Boo scooted over to rest his face in my hand and decided for me.
I recall the brief hesitation. Not because of Boo, but because I had recently said goodbye to dogs who had needed me in such consuming ways during the last years of their lives. Loving them meant showing up fully, through the gradual decline in health, the regimented care, and eventually, the heartbreak of letting them go. And somewhere within that still-fresh grief was a quiet doubt. Was I ready for a companion that might ask that of me again? I remembered the tenderness of it all, as well as the emotional weight of caring for a pet with mobility challenges and extensive medical needs. So I reassured myself that Boo would only stay briefly with me. I would create a safe place where he can blossom until something more permanent comes along.
Boo settled in quickly, undeterred by his condition. Full of curiosity and generously affectionate, he was always looking for me, eager for pets and cuddles. There was joy that radiated in the way he held on to my company. It didn’t take many days for me to realize that Boo was here to stay.
If you’ve ever hesitated adopting a disabled pet, I understand — I did too. It’s natural to assume it will be overwhelming. But what I’ve learned is that you don’t have to be someone extraordinary to care for them. You just have to be willing to be present and take the small steps to figure out what works best for their needs.
Life with Boo has definitely been a learning process, and he continues to teach me how to take better care of him. Yes, there is some additional work, such as the weekly butt baths, which I think of as our special bonding time. Luckily, Boo handles them like a champ! And because of his mobility limits, he needs help to ensure that he is eating his cecotropes, which we call “Booberries”. He gobbles them up each time I offer them to him with a teaspoon. Before long, it all became part of our rhythm. My daily life with Boo is surprisingly calm, albeit at a slightly different pace, and not exhausting or scary as I had briefly feared.
Boo is now living with his beautiful bonded partner Bora (FKA Niblet), an able-bodied rabbit who moves with ease in ways he cannot, yet seems to instinctively slow down and match his pace. I was initially fostering Bora through Oakland-based rescue, Oakland Street Bunz. She had been rescued with her bonded partner Charles after surviving outdoors. Tragically, Charles had endured too much. Shortly after being rescued, he succumbed to complications from a predator-inflicted wound. This is often the reality that abandoned rabbits must face, even after being rescued and receiving extensive medical care.
From day one, Bora was confident and social. She was bursting with curiosity and also aching for companionship. Being a bit of an escape artist, she frequently visited Boo next door. One day, I found Bora giving Boo kisses through the x-pen bars. They both looked so happy to have met each other that I couldn’t keep them apart.
Though the bonding process was at times dramatic and stressful, the love they shared was undeniable through the ups and downs. Now, they are inseparable, snuggling and showering each other with kisses. It has been beautiful to watch their relationship grow.
Because of his condition, Boo is part of the Golden Ears program, through which HRS offers regular veterinary care and medication at no cost to adopters. Though I was nervous about adopting a specially-abled rabbit, it made all the difference knowing that I would have support from the knowledgeable team at HRS.
Equally as important, being a part of the Golden Ears program means that Boo is part of a community where he is seen and loved — something that everybun deserves to have in their lifetime. I am deeply grateful for the partnership with HRS that enables me to offer Boo the best life possible.
If you’re thinking about adopting, please consider the rabbits who move a little differently, too. They don’t need a perfect home, just one that’s willing to meet them where they are.
