She was all by herself 🥺
As soccer fans filled downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, to celebrate the World Cup, one small animal found herself in a frightening situation. In the middle of the noise, crowds and excitement, a little bunny had somehow ended up alone near the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Overwhelmed by everything around her, the bunny tried to hide beside outdoor planters, looking for a safe place to stay out of sight. Thankfully, a few kind people noticed her and realized she needed help.
They contacted Rabbitats Rescue, and the team quickly arrived with exercise pens and bunny-friendly treats, hoping to safely contain the frightened little rabbit. But the rescue was not simple. The bunny darted around the busy block, making rescuers follow her through the crowd before she finally tucked herself beside a food truck.
The team carefully set up pens around her hiding spot and waited patiently. When the bunny finally came out, rescuers were able to scoop her up and get her away from the chaos.
She was taken to the home of one of the rescuers, Sorelle, where she could rest and be checked over. The little rabbit was given the name Chickpea, inspired by the food truck where she had taken shelter.
At first, Chickpea was nervous and avoided people whenever they came near. But once she realized she was safe, her personality started to shine. She became curious, social and eager to explore. Before long, she was moving around her enclosure, checking out her surroundings and even showing interest in other rabbits nearby.
Although Chickpea seemed comfortable around people after some time, rescuers do not believe she was a recently abandoned pet. Instead, they think she may be the young descendant of domestic rabbits who had been dumped in the past and later formed feral populations.
This has become a serious issue in parts of the area. Many domestic rabbits live outside even though they are not truly wild animals and are not meant to survive on their own. Some hide under cars, and young rabbits can accidentally travel from one place to another in vehicle undercarriages.
That may be how Chickpea ended up in such a dangerous and crowded location.
Luckily, she was spotted before anything bad happened. After her rescue, Chickpea was moved to Rabbitats’ main facility, where she could continue recovering in a safer environment. There, she joined other rescued young rabbits who had also been found in unsafe situations.
As part of her rehabilitation, Chickpea will eventually get supervised outdoor time and the chance to grow stronger while staying protected.
The rescuers are saddened that she ever had to face such a scary experience, but they are grateful she made it into their care.
Now, instead of hiding in the middle of a packed city celebration, Chickpea is safe, watched over and finally getting the second chance she deserves.