Here’s our history…
The Bunny Hutch Boutique was originally founded by six zookeepers to raise money for other rescues by offering unique animal-made, sustainable swag in exchange for donations. Then, one day, someone dumped snakes who needed new homes… and so it began.
Check out this video, created by one of our interns, or read on below to learn more about The Bunny Hutch:
A look to the future. Due to COVID we lost our beautiful shelter in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We are currently raising funds to purchase a 300-acre defunct gold course. Currently we utilize a network of zoological professionals that have volunteered their expertise to foster animals to be transferred to zoos and aquariums across the United States.
Our foundation to assist all those covered in fur, feather, skin, or scales. Local city-funded shelters are equipped to rescue dogs and cats but are over-burdened by everything else. Our goal is to alleviate this pressure as much as possible by rescuing not only bunnies, but also ferrets, rats, snakes, chinchillas, tortoise, lizards, tarantulas, turtles, birds, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and just about any other abandoned companion animal that hops, slithers, walks, flies, or crawls through our doors.
Today, The Bunny Hutch Boutique is just a small part of CLIMATES-Rescue, which has been called an “Island of Misfit Critters.” Dr. Maxwell and the volunteer crew have rescued over 400 animals, and travel around the nation to teach others about the unique animals in their care, including a rare rhino rat snake smuggled to the U.S. in a man’s trousers, a tarantula found hidden in a teen’s closet by a very surprised mother, and countless other rabbits, rats, chinchillas, snakes, tortoises, raccoons, frogs, lizards, and other animals that have passed through CLIMATES-Rescue on their way to a fur-ever zoo or aquarium home.
Our facility also serves as a training ground for the next generation of animal caregivers. Our volunteer and internship program allows young adults, kids, and families to learn about exotic animal care in a unique hands-on environment.
And then there’s Jr.
Our beloved mascot was the real boss here at CLIMATES-Rescue. Lord Roland Watson Beldon Maxwell VIII – aka Jr. – a continental giant rabbit whose father holds the record for being the biggest bunny in the world. Jr. was the runt of the litter but grew to be the largest rabbit in the United States. His presence made so much possible as Official Easter Bunny for the Commonwealth of Virginia. With COVID we lost more than our shelter, we lost our boss. Jr. served as our mascot for CLIMATES-Rescue and The Bunny Hutch Boutique. He will be greatly missed, but we strive every day to keep his mission alive.
CLIMATES-Rescue and The Bunny Hutch uphold the same high standards found at Association of Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) zoos and aquariums. Our goal is to buy land to open a large-scale Zoological University. A home we own so nothing will ever leave us homeless.
Donate today to help turn this dream into a reality.
