Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary

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United States
Whittaker, MI
Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary

Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary GLRS provides a safe haven to abandoned, abused, and neglected domestic rabbits and others. Expect a response within 1-2 days.

If you are interested in adopting, please contact our adoption coordinator at [email protected]. Sanctuary work keeps us very busy, so we may not be able to respond right away. Visiting the Sanctuary: We welcome visitors and are very excited to share the wonders of the sanctuary, however, we are not open to the public on a daily basis. Tours are available by appointment only during the

spring, summer, and early fall. Please email us at least 48 hours in advance to schedule a visit and have us confirm your visit. To help us continue providing a safe haven for the animals, we request a donation of $5.00 per person for tours of the sanctuary. To get involved in volunteering email [email protected]

02/10/2025

💙 Be My Bunentine Art Auction 💙

Our first featured rabbit artist is April! 🎨

April arrived in spring of 2024 and gave birth to her litter not long after. She loves exploring and climbing, and will do almost anything for fresh cilantro! She is a confident, outgoing, very smart girl who would do well with a family who can match her energy and who are prepared to bunny proof everything to keep her safe while she plays. She's a volunteer favorite, and loves attention and snacks!

You can bid on April's artwork at https://givebutter.com/c/BeMyBunnyValentine/auction. Head to our previous post for full details!

02/10/2025

Love is in the air, and our little bunny artists just couldn't contain their creativity any longer! 💙

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we're hosting a bunny art auction -- no, not art OF bunnies... art MADE BY bunnies! That's right, our very own rescued rabbits put their artistic abilities to the test, and now you're all invited to the exhibition in the form of an online silent auction!

From now until February 16th at 11:45 PM EST you can bid on your favorite pieces by the sweetest artists. Bidding starts at $10 with $1 minimum increments. We'll also be sharing the artwork and artist profiles all week long so you can get to know the bun behind the canvas.

Register now and start bidding at https://givebutter.com/c/BeMyBunnyValentine/auction

02/08/2025

Magnolia is ready for her forever home! 💙

We're not sure how this playful girl has been with us for over a year -- she's so much fun! And we don't just mean her cool hair; she'll keep you entertained for hours with her antics.

To leave more about Magnolia, visit her on Petfinder or email us at [email protected]!

02/06/2025

Our rescued giants have all been sponsored, now it's time to reveal their new names courtesy of their sponsors!

We're so excited to ✨officially✨ introduce you to Butty Bear, Mustafa, Oscar, Mr. Brioche, and Snowy 💙 We can't wait to see how much better life is going to get for these five after their rough first few years.

If you missed out on sponsoring these buns and want to participate in naming new rescues in the future, you're in luck -- it's one of the perks of joining our Patreon! Gain access to naming polls and more at Patreon.com/GLRS for as low as $1/month, and know you're supporting all the animals at GLRS 💙

02/04/2025

💙Update 2/5: Bun 4 has been sponsored!💙

"Bun 4" from our continental giants rescue is still open for a sponsor! As a special bonus, you'll also get to name him! 💙

A $300 donation covers the neuter surgery for this sweet boy who's still learning how to accept love after a very rough start to life. Getting his surgery means he's one step closer to being ready for his forever home!

Head back to our previous for full details or go to rabbitsanctuary.org/donate to sponsor or donate. Any and every donation helps!

02/03/2025

Here's an update on Granny Smith, who was adopted in October!

Granny Smith (right) was one of mama Mochi's "Apple" babies and the first of her siblings to leave GLRS. She met visiting bun Snowball in July and although Snowball was a little nervous at first, Granny Smith was very respectful of his boundaries and came home as a foster-to-adopt. They're now fully bonded! 💙

Bunny speed dating isn't always perfect as it can be a high-stress experience, so fostering-to-adopt is the perfect way to ensure your resident rabbit and a new bun continue to hit it off longterm without the upfront commitment! Of course we love success stories like this, but if it doesn't work out, we always welcome the foster back with open arms.

To learn more about bunny speed dating or foster-to-adopt, reach out to our adoption coordinator at [email protected]

02/02/2025

Jewel is coming up on one year with us at GLRS, and it's time for her to find her forever home! 💙

She came to us in February 2024 after she was found behind a dumpster in Ohio. Due to her rough start in life she's a bit shy at first, but once she's comfortable she becomes very curious about her surroundings and is actually pretty playful! She'll need a patient person or family to give her the time she needs to open up.

To learn more about Jewel, visit her on our Petfinder or email us at [email protected]!

02/01/2025

February is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month, and we have so many that would love to meet you!

Featured here are just a few of our adoptable buns that are ready for their forever homes: Ambrosia, April, Braeburn, Chip, Darla, and bonded pair Heron and Starling. 🐰

You can see all of our adoptable rabbits at tinyurl.com/GLRS-petfinder or email us at [email protected] to learn more!

01/29/2025

💙 Update 2/6: All buns have been sponsored! Stay tuned for their names 💙

We have a very BIG story to share with you today! And as we share this story, please remember to hold compassion for the humans and buns involved in this rescue.

We recently were asked to take in 5 continental giants who had previously been used for 4-H and breeding purposes and who were the victims of animal abuse. In case you didn’t know, continental giants are the largest domestic rabbit breed that exists. These rabbits are approximately 15 to 20 lbs each and were kept in wire cages so small that they could not fully lay down for the entire 2-3 years of their lives.

A kind family member of the bunnies’ owner realized that these bunnies were not living but surviving. He convinced his family members to let him rehome 13 rabbits in their care. GLRS asked to take in the ones who were the largest and/or had the most behavioral issues. We are also grateful that the Humane Society of Huron Valley was willing to take the other 8 rabbits.

While we typically use our platform Patreon to vote on names for incoming adoptable rabbits, we felt that these rabbits needed extra love and support. We are asking for donations of $300 or more to cover these bunnies’ 5 spay/neuter surgeries.

As a special bonus, we would like to extend an invitation to the first donors of $300 or more the ability to name one of the five rabbits. We will edit and update this post as soon as we have reached our goal!

Donations can be made at rabbitsanctuary.org/donate. When making your donation, please write in the comment section a list of the bunnies, in order of preference, that you would like to name. (Ex: Bun 2, Bun 5, Bun 3, Bun 1, Bun 4). Bunnies will be named in chronological order of donations received.

*Names will need to be checked with our adoption team to ensure they follow our standards and have not been used before.*

01/28/2025

We're so glad to be back out of the single digit temps, but thankfully the pigs were warm and cozy anyway in their new bed! 🥰

The pigs got a BIG upgrade to their pen with a big heated house and a bigger, sturdier area for them to romp around.

01/21/2025

Holly is ready for her forever home! 💙

Holly is a sweet, shy girl and will need a patient adopter who will give her the time and space to open up at her own pace. She loves her tunnel- it’s her favorite place to hang out! Having safe places to hide will be important for her in her new home, but she's willing to be brave for treats 🥬 We promise she's worth your patience! She has the cutest polka dots and the gentlest personality. Could you be the one who helps her come out of her shell? 🐰

To learn more about Holly, visit her on our Petfinder or email us at [email protected]!

01/14/2025

✨Gentle✨ reminder that our "Second Sundays" open tour hours are closed through February! We'll have open hours back up and running on the second Sunday of each month starting in March when the weather starts to warm up.

Until then you can email Kate at [email protected] to schedule a private tour! 💙

01/07/2025

We mentioned them on our 2024 recap, but we want to give an official welcome to Freida and Honey! 🐐

This mom (Freida, curved horns) and daughter duo unfortunately found themselves without a home when their previous caretaker passed away. Thankfully a friend of a friend stepped in and, although he couldn't house them himself due to housing restrictions, he got them to us!

They're making themselves right at home and we're so glad they're here 💙

You can follow Honey, Freida, and all our other non-rabbit residents at Instagram.com/pigsofglrs!

01/04/2025

It's January 4th, which means we're officially back open for adoptions after our holiday break! We have so many rabbits, like Marzipan, who would love to meet you 💙

Marzipan is a friendly, curious lady, who loves to hop on top of her box and explore her space. Like most bunnies, she prefers to keep her feet on the floor, and she's a little shy. She'll need a patient adopter to let her warm up on her own time and help her feel safe. But we promise she's worth the wait! With time and patience (and lots of cilantro!) she can learn to enjoy pets and will be a wonderful companion!

To learn more about our adoptable rabbits, head to tinyurl.com/glrs-petfinder or email us at [email protected] for more info!

12/31/2024

We can't believe it's already the end of the year! As 2024 comes to a close, we wanted to send you some updates about the great work that we've been doing this year.

We've had a lot of great successes -- so many lives saved, rabbits adopted out to loving homes, new programs and events -- but unfortunately the year also came with a few losses. We said goodbye to GLRS resident pigs Homie and Franklin, as well as three rabbits: Hope, Winston, and Pickles. Losses are always difficult, but we find comfort in knowing these animals felt love, care, and respect during their time with us 💙

We're so excited to see what 2025 has in store for us, and we're so glad you're following along with us!

12/29/2024

Update on Marlow (grey), who was adopted earlier this year! 💙

Marlow came to us in early 2023 when his former caretaker circumvented our surrender process and left him on our office desk with a note that said "Mistletoe." From that, we can only assume he was a Christmas present that was no longer wanted now that the holidays passed -- a perfect example of why we close for adoptions every December!

He soon became a staff and volunteer favorite, and even found his forever home with one... Me, the social media coordinator! We brought our rabbit Layla to the sanctuary for bunny speed dating, and after meeting several wonderful buns, Marlow was the perfect calm match to our girl who we lovingly refer to as "feral." We brought him home in July and by mid-August they were fully bonded!

I cannot recommend bringing your bun in for bunny speed dating enough. We were unsure if Layla wanted a friend, and seeing how she reacted with the other rabbits vs how she interacted with Marlow made it clear that it was the best decision! Now they spend their days cuddling, grooming, playing, and sharing their salad 💙

If you have a bun you'd like to set up on speed dating or are interested in adopting in general, email us at [email protected] and we'll get back with you when we reopen on January 4!

12/25/2024

Merry Bunmas! 🎄

For the twelfth day of Bunmas, we want to give a BIG thank you to our wonderful staff! They're out at the sanctuary every single day -- holidays, weekends, late nights, and early mornings -- always making sure the animals receive the absolute best care possible. We love them! 💙

Always thinking of the animals, our animal care team's wish list includes donations toward our Barn Bunnovation Project (peep those floors in the photos... They need replacing!), new brooms, and other operational support items that help keep the sanctuary running. These items aren't as "fun" as toys and treats for the rabbits so they're often overlooked, but they're just as important!

We hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday season and thank you for following along these past twelve days, sharing, and donating. We're so lucky to have you!

Links for our Barn Bunnovation Project and wish lists are in the comments!

12/24/2024

The eleventh day of Bunmas brings us to Holly! 🐰

December 22 was Holly's one-year anniversary at GLRS, hence her festive name 🎄 She was caught roaming outside in Toledo, but thankfully found her way to us before she was out in the cold for too long.

Holly is a sweet, shy girl and will need a patient adopter who will give her the time and space to open up at her own pace. She LOVES her tunnel and having great hangout spots will be a must in her forever home!

For Bunmas, Holly wants all of her friends to enjoy a good hidey spot, so she's asking for tunnels/houses, enrichment, and donations toward our ongoing Barn Bunnovation Project 🎁 links to shop and donate are in the comments!

See you tomorrow for the twelfth day of Bunmas!

Address

P. O. Box 7
Whittaker, MI

Website

http://www.rabbitsanctuary.org/, http://linktree.com/greatlakesrabbit

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On the tenth day of Bunmas, we bring you a very special bun -- Bebe! 💙 Bebe came to us in November 2021 from Missaukee Humane Society and was born with a severely deformed leg. Her leg was completely twisted upside down, causing her hip and spine to twist as well. While she was still able to get around, our vet decided amputation was necessary to keep her comfortable and improve her mobility -- and she's doing great as our only tripod bun! 🐰 For Bunmas, Bebe would love some comfy blankets and sherpa pads to keep her and her housemates cozy, @oxbowanimalhealth joint support biscuits to keep her remaining legs in good shape, and donations toward their ongoing medical care. Links to our wish lists and donation page are available in our bio! 🎁 #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

We're kicking off Twelve Days of Bunmas with Annabelle! 🐰 Annabelle is available for adoption and would love to meet you once we reopen for adoptions on January 4th! You can shop Annabelle's wishlist via Amazon in the link in our bio or by donating directly! 🎁 #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

Meet April (and her babies)! 🐰 We introduced you to April back in June when she developed pyometra and had to be rushed to the vet. Her uterus was so infected the vet couldn't see the SEVEN babies growing inside! 😮 The babies are now six weeks old and living on their own, and mama April was spayed last week and will be ready for her forever home soon! #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

⭐Learn more about our barn renovation campaign at https://givebutter.com/GLRSBarnRenovation or learn more about the work that we do at http://www.rabbitsanctuary.org. ⭐ Every day, Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary feeds, houses, and cares for over 70 adoptable rabbits. While we take great pride in the care that we provide our rabbits and other lifelong residents, we desperately need to renovate our Adoption Barn and Binkyville. Our primary goal is to replace our barn floors - there are cracks in the concrete that do not allow us to fully sanitize the floors. The Department of Agriculture has given us a timeline to get these floors fixed. Even after a nonprofit discount, the floors will cost $12,000 to replace. Because of the fumes associated with replacing the floor, we will also need to find a space to house our bunnies for approximately one week. We do not yet have a space to do this, and we are still researching options and costs. (If you have a commercial space or contact for a commercial real estate agent who may be able to help us, please email [email protected]) This is a huge undertaking, but it also allows us to make other much-needed improvements while the rabbits are removed from the Sanctuary buildings. These additional costs add up quickly, which is why we have set our fundraising goal of $25,000. We rely solely on our devoted and passionate donors for financial support. YOU are the reason we have saved lives every day for almost thirty years. Can you help us save lives for thirty more? If you have any questions or would like to discuss other opportunities to financially support Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, please contact our fundraising coordinator, Liz Swaynie, at [email protected]. Want to help us with the labor involved with the Bunnovation Project? Reach out to our volunteer coordinator, Kate Przybylo, at [email protected] for details. Gratefully, 💙 Your Friends at Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary

Juniper (adopted in November) and her new husbun Noel are getting into the holiday spirit! How cute is their little romaine tree 🎄 Juniper and Noel's family say she's doing well and they're working on their bonding during the day. Juniper is still timid but curious and slowly exploring her new home. 💚 #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

We may not have been able to welcome you at the sanctuary this past weekend, but we still want to give you a tour! Take a trip through GLRS with us and learn a bit about our history 🐇

Giveaway, Raffle, and Silent Auction Results!

Zanzibar is ready for her forever home! She's spent all of her four years with us and it's time she gets a family of her own to love on her as much as she deserves. #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

These sisters are looking for their forever home together! Matilda, Pippi, and Ramona are a bonded trio that were born at the sanctuary and are ready to find their perfect family. #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

These brothers were born at GLRS and are ready for their forever home! #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

Arial and Pebble are a sweet bonded pair looking for their forever home! #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

Meet Birdie! She's looking for a home and a family that she can have all to herself -- could that be with you? #greatlakesrabbitsanctuary #nonprofit #animalsanctuary #bunnies #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #bunniesofinsta #bunnylovers #cutebunnies #instabunnies #instabunny #bunniesworldwide #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbitsofig #rabbitsofinsta #rabbitlovers #cuterabbits #instarabbits #instarabbit #rabbitsworldwide #veganfortheanimals #vegananimalrescue #vegansanctuary #vegananimalsanctuary #veganrescue #michigananimalrescue #rabbitrescue #adoptdontshop

Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary

02/10/2025

02/10/2025

02/08/2025

02/06/2025

02/04/2025

02/03/2025

02/02/2025

02/01/2025

01/29/2025

01/28/2025

01/21/2025

01/14/2025

01/07/2025

01/04/2025

12/31/2024

12/29/2024

12/25/2024

12/24/2024

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