The Rabbit Sanctuary in Rushforth, near Grafton aims to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome bunnies

Kim Cooney from the Rabbit Sanctuary near Grafton says her furry friends are often overlooked and can make great house-pets. See why

During Covid the surge in pet ownership left one Rushforth woman hopping mad.

Kim Cooney, 70, of The Rabbit Sanctuary in Rushforth – just south of Grafton – has three primary goals: to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome bunnies.

She is educating prospective owners on how to properly care for them, to avoid neglect or abandonment.

“People get them and lock them in tiny cages so they either die or become bored with the pet,” Ms Cooney said.

Kim Cooney of The Rabbit Sanctuary is raising awareness that bunnies can be house pets rather than caged animals. Picture: Matt Gazy

“What I’ve been trying to do for 13 years is share why I believe they’re great family indoor pets,” Ms Cooney said.

She said caging them limits their ability to show “the true nature of the rabbit as a companion”.

“A bunny can be like a dog or a cat in the house – sit on the lounge or on your lap and come when you call it,” she said.

Ms Cooney said they’re very intelligent, capable of learning tricks and understanding their owners.

“But when they’re isolated in a cage they can’t show this true nature,” she said.

Many owners bought bunnies for their children who would play with them as toys: tormenting them and leaving baby bunnies with broken bones.

“There’s a lot of neglect and owners should be responsible,” she said.

Ms Cooney has seen many rabbits suffering with overgrown teeth due to poor ownership: as their teeth rely on having things to chew on to keep them trim.

Kim Cooney of The Rabbit Sanctuary is raising awareness that bunnies can be house pets rather than caged animals. Pictured is Billie - journalist Matt Gazy's chihuahua and a little rabbit. Picture: Matt Gazy

The sanctuary is struggling to rescue the growing number of abandoned bunnies – as hundreds wait on a list.

“We’re almost at the point of desperation,” she said.

Ms Cooney said caged animal philosophy comes from cultural stigma which she's hoping to dissolve.

“It relates to the rural country mentality that animals are livestock and should be caged,” she said.

She said the average owner is unaware of the joys a bunny can provide.

Kim Cooney the Rabbit Sanctuary is struggling to rescue the growing number of abandoned bunnies – as hundreds wait on a list.. Picture: Matt Gazy

“Bunnies are a wonderful house pet - but a cage is not enough. They’re a social creature,” she said.

She said they “can’t break the culture” and therefore feels reluctant to rehome animals in the area.

Rabbits act as perfect pets for workers as they are “diurnal” – sleep during the day as the owner leaves, then become active at dusk.

The appeal was evident during a massive lockdown period for lonely or socially isolated Sydneysiders.

“They make great apartment pets – they love sitting around and lazing about during the days,”

Ms Cooney hopes that education and understanding into the bunny will allow it to flourish as a house pet, rather than being “like a budgie in a cage”.