- April 26, 2024
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Fort Wilbur's CEO, Vanessa Hill and her bunny Buddha. Photo by Alexis Miller
Susan Chairbolotti and Brenda Trujillo with Orlando Rabbit Care and Adoptions. Photo by Alexis Miller
Fort Wilbur volunteer Desiree Razon's rabbit, Nila. Photo by Alexis Miller
Julia and Jacob Frankel with Buddha the rabbit. Photo by Alexis Miller
With thousands of displaced rabbits in the state, Ormond Beach nonprofit Fort Wilbur Rabbit Resources hosted a rabbit education event on Saturday, March 23 at Gerber Jeweler on 1500 Ridgewood Ave. in Holly Hill.
“Our purpose is to educate the public on the rabbit situation in Florida," said Vanessa Hill, CEO and founder of Fort Wilbur Rabbit Resources. "There are over 1,200 rabbits currently with no home or placement, including in shelters, and how important adoption is and doing your research before adopting. So, we are here to provide the assistance and the support, as far as research and education goes."
Hill, of Ormond Beach, began working with animals in high school and worked for Florida Fish and Wildlife doing wildlife rehabilitation. She then transferred to working in animal shelters and humane societies, as well as shadowing at veterinary clinics. When she realized there was not much help for rabbits, she decided to take matters into her own hands and started Fort Wilbur in 2011.
“It all started when I was working in animal rescue and we received a call about some rabbits with special needs, one of them was named Wilbur," she said. "He had a heart murmur and wasn’t expected to live very long. That was when I decided to start focusing on rabbits."
Fort Wilbur started as a rabbit owner support center, taking in surrendered rabbits and fostering them. After realizing how many rabbits were not cared for and the need for rehabilitation, Fort Wilbur started its journey treating rabbits and providing free therapy and rehabilitation treatments.
In 2019, Fort Wilbur received its license as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Since then, shelters have been placed in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas and the number of volunteers has expanded offering assistance to any rabbit in need including therapy programs, rehabilitation, grooming, and health evaluations.
The Fort Wilbur team is currently made up of 12 regular volunteers, but temporary volunteers are used often for event set up and take down, handing out flyers and for general support of the foundation and its cause.
Desiree Razon has been a volunteer at Fort Wilbur for almost four years and connected with Hill through her rabbit, Nila.
“I had never had a bunny before and researched a lot — that’s how I heard of Fort Wilbur," Razon said. "I contacted Vanessa right away and she helped me tremendously and showed me the ropes of having a bunny.
Fort Wilbur also helped find Nila a new playmate after the rabbit that she had been adopted with, Choco, died. Over a year later, Toast came to Fort Wilbur and Razon took a chance on him. Nila and Toast have been inseparable ever since.
Hill has had rabbits of her own for 14 years. She has a rabbit named Buddha who has been a mascot for Fort Wilbur for many years. He is taken to schools, nursing homes and events to teach all ages about rabbits. The March 23 event was Buddha’s last, as he is retiring to be a "stay-at-home bunny."
Orlando Rabbit Care & Adoptions, Inc. teamed up with Fort Wilbur for the first time at the event to provide additional rabbit resources to people interested in adopting. ORCA started as a nonprofit organization in 2006, focusing on education. In 2016, it became a rescue operation and helps other rabbit organizations.
“Families who want bunnies really need to know how much time and work it takes, so I would suggest research and educating yourself,” Razon said. “I also suggest fostering a bunny that’s been in an adoption center for a few years gives them a chance to have a forever home. That’s our purpose.”
