You Made It Happen: 246 Rabbits Adopted!

It was the largest number of animals we’d ever received at once, and we’re happy to report they’ve all found loving homes!

Back in February, our dedicated animal care professionals joined Pierce County Animal Control to remove 246 rabbits from an unsafe, overcrowded environment. It was an overwhelming, emotionally exhausting day, but through teamwork and compassion, the sweet rabbits were brought to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County to receive thorough, expert care.

One of the 246 rabbits receiving care at our shelter.

With so many rabbits arriving at once, our shelter’s capacity, resources, and staffing were stretched to its absolute limit, so we turned to our community for help.

The outpouring of support from our donors, network of fosters, and new volunteers who stepped up to take in these deserving rabbits, was truly heart-warming and humbling. Within four days, more than 140 of these rabbits went to loving foster homes, alleviating a massive burden for our animal care team.

Sam was one of those fosters who felt compelled by the news of the confiscation and decided to open her home for three of these rabbits to provide them a warm, temporary place to stay.

Two of Sam’s foster rabbits, Megaladon and Chaos.

“I heard about the confiscation through an email from HSTPC and couldn’t imagine how that volume of rabbits would be cared for if people didn’t step up to foster,” Sam said.

One of her fosters, Megladon, was transferred to a partner rescue while her other foster, Chaos, was adopted by a family in Gig Harbor. But her third rabbit, McBean, quickly made himself at home with Sam, her husband, and even their two cats. It was clear within a couple of days that the fun-loving rabbit had already found his family.

“McBean enjoys his life of leisure and retirement, hanging out with our cat, Tucker, and eating fennel, Italian parsley, and wheatgrass,” Sam said. “He’s very sweet and reminds us all to relax and eat our vegetables.”

McBean happy in his new home with Sam.

We are incredibly grateful for fosters and adopters like Sam who came forward during this unprecedented moment to provide the support these rabbits and our animal care team desperately needed. Today, all 246 have been placed in loving homes from our shelter and through our transfer partners, and we could not have done it without our caring community of animal advocates.

From all of us at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County- THANK YOU!